It had its maiden voyage on Sunday but there’s already talk the next edition of NAB Western Premiers Challenge could be on the move.
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The timing of the concept was the major talking point at Carrington Park on Sunday, where Group 11 premiers Forbes proved a class above their Group 10 counterparts Bathurst Panthers in a 40-16 thumping.
The game was played two weeks after both group deciders and a number of players, from both top grade sides and in the lower grades – league tag, under 18s and under 16s were played as well – were absent.
Couple that with teams battling as they come off the high of grand final glory and Western Rams chairman Peter McDonald admits there’s a discussion that needs to be had ahead of the next premiers challenge.
“The idea of playing at a different time of the year has been raised,” he said.
“It’s hard for the clubs that won the grand final to get ready.”
McDonald added, by and large, the overwhelming response to the day was positive.
Three Forbes-based sides brought a huge amount of support to Carrington Park for the day.
“It was a great spectacle and we had good coverage out of it, which is putting rugby league up there for another couple of weeks … that’s a big plus for the area,” he said.
“But I would probably favour it being played earlier in the year.”
McDonald said ideally a decision will be made at the next Western Rams meeting in October, which will then allow both groups to notify clubs when the 2019 premiers will meet.
“The date was always going to be a sticking point … hopefully we can make our decision before the group AGMs and they can all pencil in the dates and leave them set aside,” McDonald said, confident the concept will continue.
“It has been talked about for a while and there’s always a few barbs between the two comps and that’s great for rugby league, too.
“Forbes had an enormous amount of people there and played some terrific footy. I thought it was a great day."