A decision on the future of the Narromine Jets won't be made until after the Group 11 annual general meeting later this month.
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The Jets are weighing up their options after opting against nominating for the western-wide Peter McDonald Premiership next season.
Details of the premiership, which involves first grade and under 18s sides from Group 11 and Group 10, were released this week and Narromine was the only club which competed in Group 11 this year to be a part of it.
Jets president Mick Burns, who had aired concerns about the premiership earlier this month, confirmed his side wouldn't be playing in the premiership but wouldn't be drawn on what the future holds for his club.
"We don't know yet. We can't say much until after the Group 11 AGM," he said, that meeting being set for November 28.
"We don't know what competition we'll be in yet."
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The two options facing the Jets are remaining in Group 11 and featuring in only reserve grade and league tag - those competitions stay within their existing boundaries in 2022 - or make the move to the Castlereagh League.
The Castlereagh League, featuring smaller towns from the western area, currently has one senior division, league tag, and juniors.
A lack of player numbers in both the senior and junior ranks has been an issue for the Narromine Jets for a number of years in Group 11.
The under 18s side benefited from a number of Narromine locals being forced to return home from boarding school in Sydney due to the COVIDS lockdown during the 2021 season, however, the side won just the one match.
The Jets won only three games across all four grades during the 2021 season, which was ultimately cut short by COVID, and Burns pointed to the money being spent on players in bush footy as the biggest hurdle for his smaller club.
"We just can't compete with the bigger clubs and the money they're spending," Burns said.
"It's bad for the club that we can't afford to compete against bigger clubs."
Speaking to the Daily Liberal on Wednesday, NSW Rugby League chief executive officer David Trodden said it was his understanding the Jets would be playing in the Castlereagh League.
It would be great to see Narromine, Blayney and Cowra all forming a part of future western premier league competitions.
- David Trodden
Regardless of where the red and white of the Jets are on show next year, Trodden said the door will remain open for the club to step up to the Peter McDonald Premiership in the coming years.
The same goes for the Blayney Bears, who were unable to field a first grade or under 18s side this season due to a lack of numbers.
They Bears will continue to play reserve grade and league tag in Group 10 in 2022.
"My understanding is they (Narromine) wouldn't have been in a position to fill a full compliment of teams in Group 11 no matter what the competition make-up was," Trodden said.
"There's a chance they'll be playing in the Castlereagh League.
"Those developments, for me, emphasise the need for something like the premiership because if you lose some of those towns and don't do anything about it, it can ultimately make the competitions unsustainable.
"That's the whole reason that underpins the premier league."
Trodden said Narromine and Blayney could look to Cowra as an example after the Magpies failed to field a first grade side in Group 10 this year but have committed to the Peter McDonald Premiership.
"Nothing would make people happier than seeing those places, and even places like Oberon, regroup and strengthen up and come back into the higher competitions," Trodden said.
"It (Cowra returning) is really exciting. It would be great to see Narromine, Blayney and Cowra all forming a part of future western premier league competitions. That would be a sign of success."
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