Group 11 secretary Paul Loxley insisted his board could not have done any more for Dubbo Westside after confirming the battling club won't take any further part in the competition in 2019.
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After forfeiting to Macquarie two weeks ago due to a lack of numbers across first and reserve grade, the Rabbitohs were warned by the Group 11 board a second forfeit would see them removed from the final rounds of competition across all grades.
The Dubbo club promised it would bounce back after the general bye and make the trip to Forbes and as of Friday numbers at training had been positive.
But while the league tag and reserve grade took to the field at Spooner Oval on Sunday there was not enough numbers for the main game to go ahead.
"They're definitely gone for this season," Loxley said.
"The main thing is we couldn't have done any more for them. Now they've got to repay the faith we showed by coming in with a rock-solid plan if they come back next year."
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The Westside club opted not to make comment on the situation on Sunday afternoon, but a post on the club's Facebook page said it was forced to forfeit at Forbes "due to unforeseen circumstances and player injuries".
A mid-year meeting between the Group 11 board and clubs was already planned for this coming weekend and now Westside is set to be a major topic of discussion there.
While Loxley stated he had doubts about Westside's long-term future, he did feel the club's struggles are proof of a wider issue in the competition.
The Group 11 secretary pointed to Macquarie's under 18s being forced to forfeit to Wellington on Sunday because of just eight players on hand, while there were again a number of hugely lopsided scores across all grades.
"There's bigger questions," Loxley said.
"There's a couple of big issues and on Saturday we'll have to discuss what the competition could look like next year even though no decision on that will be made until November.
They're definitely gone for this season.
- Group 11 secretary Paul Loxley on Dubbo Westside
"I don't know how everyone else will feel but looking at some scores there's definitely some concerns for some clubs.
"It's not good."
No decision has been made yet about how Westside's removal from the competition will affect Narromine and Dubbo CYMS, the clubs they were scheduled to play in the final two rounds.
The matter of for and against, which could well decide a place on the ladder at this time of year, will be discussed more by the Group 11 board in the coming days.
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Nick Guthrie
I started working at the Daily Liberal in 2013 and now hold the position of senior journalist. I cover all that's happening in sport in Dubbo and the wider western area and have a passion for doing so. If you've got a story that needs telling, reach out.
I started working at the Daily Liberal in 2013 and now hold the position of senior journalist. I cover all that's happening in sport in Dubbo and the wider western area and have a passion for doing so. If you've got a story that needs telling, reach out.
