League: Premier league hits roadblock

Duane Fyfe.

A fracas in the Far North has led Rugby League Northland to pull back its hopes of rectifying its traditional Northland-wide premier rugby league competition for 2016.

Instead, expressions of interest are currently being sought from the region's clubs in order to determine interest and numbers for a downsized RLN-facilitated premier competition.

Since the formation of a newly formed breakaway competition, dubbed Tai Tokerau League, several of the clubs that contested the 2015 RLN Premiership - including the Kerikeri Makos, Moerewa Tigers, and the Muriwhenua Falcons - have since displayed their intent to commit to the Far North 'pirate' league.

As a result, the future of the traditional premier club competition remains unknown.

"It is a regrettable circumstance that rugby league in Northland cannot advance our game together this season," RLN general manager Duane Fyfe said in a statement to the wider league community recently.

"But [we] are committed to working with TRL towards a resolution for 2017 and beyond."

Opening the TRL season in Kaitaia this weekend, the inaugural Muriwhenua Nines tournament is the first aligned with the breakaway group.

TRL chief executive Hone Harawira was unavailable for comment yesterday; however, delegates of the TRL board met last night, and the statement released by Fyfe on behalf of the RLN board was said to have been on the agenda for discussion.

In a recent meeting between representatives of RLN, NZRL, and TRL held to dissolve issues pending to the 2016 season, one of TRL's proposals was a request for its junior and senior players to be eligible for Northern Swords representation honours.

"A lengthy and robust discussion was held as children playing our game are the heart of grass roots footy," Fyfe said.

Upon requesting an opportunity for their junior and senior players to remain in contention for Northern Swords representation, TRL's wishes were given consideration despite NZRL jurisdiction disallowing non-affiliated players to play in competitions sanctioned by the national body.

Fyfe said the final verdict is that TRL's decision to operate as a non-affiliated entity means ties to the national and regional bodies have been severed which, as a result, could mean dreams of becoming the next Adam Blair or Elijah Taylor are now on the backburner for many Far North league hopefuls.

"As a result a decision was made to abide by the conditions of affiliation and decline both requests," Fyfe said.

- The closing date for expressions of interest from clubs for a RLN-run competition is February 28.