Uncertainty surrounds Seagulls

HERVEY Bay Seagulls are doing their best to remain a part of Bundaberg Rugby League (BRL), but Fraser Coast Rugby League continues to stand in their way.

Already this season the Gulls have won the battle to keep their two senior teams at Salter Oval, and now they have been forced to appeal the decision to have their under-18 squad compete in the Maryborough competition.

The annual Sugar Cities Challenge involves the Gulls and Maryborough Wallaroos tackling Bundaberg’s best clubs, and this is set to continue unchanged this season.

It is once the challenge finishes that the two administrations clash.

“We want them to remain playing against the Bundaberg sides, just like their A-grade and Leagues 11 teams do,” BRL president Mal Breen said.

“But Fraser Coast are against that and have blocked the move, so we are full steam ahead appealing that decision to the Queensland Rugby League (QRL).”

Wide Bay regional co-ordinator John Bignell confirmed it had reached the stage of appeal.

With less than two weeks until round one there is much uncertainty as to the make up of the under-18 competition, and Bignell could not say whether the situation would be resolved in time.

“It’s hard to say. It will depend on how soon Hervey Bay put their appeal through to the QRL,” he said.

With the Seagulls under-18s playing in the Fraser Coast competition, four teams will be in each competition.

If the Gulls get their way, the Coast will be reduced to just three.

“You’d have five teams in Bundaberg, one having a bye every week and three teams in Maryborough not getting a run,” Bignell said.

Originally an expanded junior competition was planned, with teams from Central and South Burnett.

“That never really got going. It was just too hard to streamline with teams from all over the place,” Breen said.