Did you know that the major community rugby league competition of the area starts this weekend?
No, neither did hardly anyone else outside the 11 clubs participating in the 2024 Wests Group Macarthur Premiership – the old Group 6 – including this media outlet.
The Oaks Tigers host the Picton Magpies in the season opener on Saturday afternoon, with the other four games scheduled for Sunday at 1.30pm (See full draw below). Premiers Thirlmere (pictured above during their 2023 grand final win over Camden) host East Campbelltown on Sunday.
But most of the interest, specially among the clubs will be on the South West Goannas, and whether they will be competitive in 2024.
Ten clubs voted to kick them out after last season, mainly because they got flogged most games.
So confident were the 10 clubs about their decision a premiership draw was released soon after the vote was taken.
But the Goannas cried foul, appealed the decision, and lo and behold, they won, meaning the draw had to be thrown into touch and a new one put together.
The appeal process is a bit of a mystery, as is the general running of this once great local rugby league competition.
Wests Group Macarthur has poured big money in terms of sponsorship of the competition.
It’s as clear as mud what this money is supposed to go to, but if any of it was supposed to be spent promoting the premiership week to week, we haven’t seen much evidence of that over the past 12 months.
This weekend’s season start is a case in point.
The footy is certain to be very good, but there are bound to be lots of questions about how the premiership is run off the field as the season progresses.
ROUND ONE:
The Oaks Tigers v Picton Magpies, 4pm Saturday, March 15, Dudley Chesham Sports Ground
Camden Rams v Campbelltown Collegians
Narellan Jets v South West Goannas
Oakdale Workers v Mittagong Lions
Thirlmere Roosters v East Campbelltown Eagles – all 1.30pm, Sunday, March 16
Campbelltown City Kangaroos – bye
