McDermott, vice president Glenn Davis and president John Claus at last week’s meeting.
With a turn out of almost 100 supporters and players to last Thursday night’s Cobar Roosters crisis meeting, the committee and Group 11 are both confident the club will once again be part of the Group 11 Rugby League competition this year.
Club president John Claus said they had labelled it as a “crisis meeting” however he hoped that it wasn’t going to get to that stage.
“We called the meeting because we had a lack of registered players for the Under 18s, Reserve Grade and First Grade teams,” he said.
The club didn’t have any players (apart from the ladies League Tag team) registered prior to Thursday’s meeting.
“We still have time to get ourselves organised, but we need numbers and we need a commitment from the players, “ he said.
Claus spoke passionately about the club’s long and proud history in the sport of rugby league.
He also praised the efforts of the Cobar Junior Rugby League committee for creating a resurge of interest in the game over the past few years.
“We have some really good players in town and some very talented juniors coming up through the ranks,” Claus said.
“It would be disappointing for our kids to grow up and not have the opportunity to play for the Roosters.”
Group 11 Rugby League secretary Ross McDermott attended the meeting and offered the club the group’s full support.
“We want you in the comp. It’s a nine team competition and it’s a strong competition.”
McDermott said he watched a number of the Cobar First Grade games last season and said the side was very competitive in the first half of many of their games, but it had been fitness that let them down in the second half.
He sympathised with the Cobar players having to deal with shift work at the mines and the distances they have to travel to play other teams in the competition.
He said the group has been helping the Narromine and Wellington clubs who are also having problems fielding Under 18s sides.
The Roosters’ future is looking brighter with 15 players signing up at Thursday’s meeting.
They have also signed Matt Harbisher to coach Reserve Grade this season.
