A Hunter Valley rugby league club president holds great fears for the future of the game.

After almost six decades in the sport he loves, Kurri Kurri Bulldogs boss Mick Alchin has witnessed the good times – and the bad – in the country arena.

But, even he’s dismayed by the current state of affairs throughout the code.

Alchin is now calling on the governing body, NSWRL, to step in and fix the issues immediately or see league perish in regional areas.

He believes overhauling the archaic junior representative laws would be a good starting point.

“I think it [the game] is in a bit of chaos at the moment,” the head Bulldog said.

“Look at all the kids who are missing out on playing because of the rep rule.

“We’re seeing the flow-on effect from it, with so many organisations and first grade sides folding.

“Some clubs have held onto them by claiming them as ‘grassroots’.

“That’s just a loophole.

“However, we’ve got to look after our juniors; we don’t want to lose them to union, AFL or soccer.

“So, NSWRL, what are you going to do about it?”

The dearth of young talent in country areas is now impacting many groups throughout the state.

Just recently, the Junee Diesels pulled up stumps while others like the Bellingen Magpies (Group 2), Camden Haven Eagles (Group 3), Menindee Yabbies, Wilcannia Boomerangs, Menindee Wedge Tail Eagles (ex-Group 12), Cooma Stallions, Candelo Bemboka Panthers (Group 16), Guyra Super Spuds, Glen Innes Magpies (Group 19), Casino Cougars (Group 1), to name a few, have also followed the same path.

In Group 2, on the Mid-North Coast, the Nambucca Heads Roosters, Orara Valley Axemen and Sawtell Panthers all spent time on the sidelines, however they’ve returned this season.

But, it is still a worrying statistic.

“Clubs are collapsing because they don’t have the young ones coming through anymore,” Alchin said.

“Kids are moving to Newcastle or Sydney for opportunities.

“It’s sad to say but country rugby league is dying.

“Some groups used to have eight-to-10 teams in their competition.

“Now, they’re down to four-to-six.

“So, why is it happening?

“It’s not something that’s just occurred [overnight] – the signs have been there a while.”

Alchin admitted he didn’t have all the answers.

However, he felt the powers-that-be had been lax in looking after its “nursery”.

“Someone has to do something about it,” he told the Newcastle Weekly.

“For starters, I think juniors should be able to play in their own area.

“When a kid lives 500m from a ground at Kurri Kurri but is forced to run out for East Maitland or Cessnock in second division, something is dramatically wrong.

“Why can’t he play with his junior club with his mates?

“He’s here, we have to look after him, not penalise him.

“I’m hearing similar stories in other regions throughout NSW; it’s not just happening in Newcastle and the Hunter Valley.

“It’s occurring everywhere they implement the rep rule.

“Bizarrely, they’re including kids as young as 14 in that regulation.

“How does that happen?

“They haven’t played for almost three years due to COVID-19.

“Juniors are at the heart of our game.

“So, we have a responsibility to be there for them.

“I’d love to see something get done about the situation from the top – NSWRL; not at grassroots level.”

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