Group 10 ushers in new era, won’t include Dubbo CYMS

But that new era isn’t likely to include Group 11 juggernaut Dubbo CYMS.

The Fishies have been rumored to desire a potential move to the Western Rams’ eastern competition, and recently signaled such an intention to Linore Zamparini, the now Group 10 chairman.

“It hasn’t really gone any further than that though,” Zamparini admitted.

“I don’t think it’s likely to, either. Ignoring boundaries can open up a can of worms … and there’s likely ramifications for our Group, too, if it’s all allowed.

“Mudgee, Cowra, even Orange, you could class the clubs in those towns all on the edges of our Group, and we don’t want to lose them. Removing boundaries makes that a possibility.”

Signing on for his 10^th season in charge, Oberon’s Zamparini was voted in as the new chairman of Group 10, with Peter McDonald (Cowra), Gary Goldsmith (Bathurst), Wayne Boyd (Bathurst), Adam Hornby (Blayney), Nick Lander (Bathurst), Matt King (Orange) and Kathy Lang (Mudgee) all appointed as directors in a move that mirrors the Group’s governing body with the changing Country Rugby League constitution. 

Zamparini was expecting the move to ease the load on the Group, with each director appointed to facilitate designated areas of the running of the game.

“It’s a move to line everyone up with similar structure to the NRL,” Zamparini added.

Now entering a decade-long tenure in charge of Group 10, Zamparini was hopeful each of the competition’s nine premier league clubs was strong enough in 2017 to field all four grades.

Orange Hawks and Lithgow Workies both fielded three teams in 2016, with the former absent in the under 18s draw and the latter not fielding a first division outfit.

“And at this stage clubs have indicated that’s going to happen, which is great to see,” he said.

The new Group 10 board will meet early in December to initiate plans for the All Stars game, which was a success in its first running at Cowra in 2016.