A devastated Ian Burns has been unable to confirm if his Dubbo Rhinos club will be able to finish the Blowes Clothing Cup season after the men in black and gold were forced to forfeit every grade to the Cowra Eagles this weekend.
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Burns, the club’s president, made the revelation following the Rhinos’ decision to forfeit after just 13 players across first grade, second grade and colts attended training on Thursday night.
It marks a low point for the club, which has never forfeited all grades in one weekend in its 25-year history, and in a truly worrying sign Burns couldn’t definitively say if his club will be able to stop it happening again in the final weeks of the regular season.
“We just don’t have the first grade footballers (anymore),” Burns said.
“We lost two back to New Zealand and we’ve had three players suffer broken jaws and then two suspensions so it just goes on and on.
“We’ve got the [Dubbo Kangaroos] in the derby next weekend and we will get a few back for that.
“Javarn (Nofoagotoa) is back, Dan Neill should be and James Vaughan too so I think we should have the players.
“But as for after that, I can’t answer that, I really can’t.”
Burns thanked his Cowra counterpart Tom Lamond unreservedly for being understanding when he made the call on Thursday night, with the Eagles having their own battles for player numbers at different times this year.
The Rhinos did all they could to play this weekend, with Burns and fellow veteran Bruno Efoti even considering lining up in Saturday’s clash but the idea of a centres pairing with a combined age of 97 was “ludicrous”, according to the club president.
Colts players would have also had to start in the backline and against an Eagles side featuring powerhouse Fijians Vilise Rabotini and Waisele Ratudina out wide, Burns said it wasn’t ridiculous to think the Cowra side could have reached triple figures.
As much as anything, Rhinos’ supremo said his club had to consider the well-being of its few available players. When it’s not safe, it’s not worth taking the risk, he said.
“You’ve got to think about player welfare,” he added.
The Rhinos will regroup next week, with Burns hopeful all three grades will line up in the derby.
That day will be extra special for the Rhinos club with the 25 year anniversary dinner to be held afterwards with former Wallabies Glen and Gary Ella set to attend.
In terms of this weekend, the Eagles receive bonus point wins in each grade. That is a boost for the first grade outfit which is in a battle for fifth.