The “think-tank” meeting at the Bega RSL Club was a bid to consider various ways of resolving major issues that are currently harming the games progress.

Group 16 president Russell Fitzpatrick opened the meeting in front of an intrigued attendance of over 40 people.

“We’re here to move forward positively,” Mr Fitzpatrick said.

“I must remind that this is just a suggestion meeting and that nothing is set in stone.”

Also in attendance at the meeting was Anthony Eaton (treasurer), Kevin Felgate (regional manager), Robert Lowry (administrative manager) and Kevin Riollo (secretary for referees association).

The key issue to come out of the meeting was the lack of funding provided in country rugby league.

“Rugby league is underfunded… it happens in every sport,” Mr Felgate said.

“We need a clear indication on how much it costs to run the game.”

Mr Felgate raised the concept of introducing a board of management to deal with the financial aspects of rugby league and to implement policy on the game.

“It doesn’t matter whether you run a small business or multi-million dollar industry, you must have strategic planning,” he said.

“The board is set to make policies, not run the competition and to create evenness between the juniors and seniors.”

Mr Felgate discussed the role that the association in conjunction with Group 7 rugby league was undertaking to draw new income into the sport.

The other major topic raised by the meeting was the future of folding clubs, such as Narooma and Merimbula/Pambula.

Mr Fitzpatrick said that these clubs would need to work hard for a few years and considered the possibility of further merging.

“Eventually everyone wants clubs up and running,” he said.

Mr Fitzpatrick said that the meeting was successful in raising issues about the current state and future of local rugby league.

“I believe that the meeting was pretty constructive and there something for everyone take away from it,” he said.