President labels pathways as contributing factor to club's demise

A player shortage in both the men's and the league tag saw the Magpies announce their withdrawal on the eve of round one.

They delayed the decision as long as possible in the hope they would gain enough players to take the field.

"It was definitely one of the hardest emails and Facebook posts we have ever had to write relating to rugby league saying that we are not proceeding for the 2022 season," Schiffmann said.

"It is definitely a big change, quite disappointing, very disheartening to be honest.

"I think we had 15 to 16 players to start the season with and we knew we would have had two or three out for the first three or four weeks due to other commitments - work, family, social etc.

"If we had everyone turn up we might have got to 17 players."

The Glen club normally start the season slow and build but this year their numbers and since the beginning of pre-season training, interest remained stagnant.

And the league tag was in a similar situation with around 10 players committed.

The coronavirus pandemic has affected recent seasons of rugby league and Schiffmann believes it has had an impact to an extent but it's another area which he highlighted as the main factor for players dropping off.

"It is all about pathways," he said.

"The minor league 16s comp, the last two years there has been three teams.

"Under 18s, they have had three or four teams when they have had a comp but the last two seasons there hasn't been an under 18s.

"So kids play footy at 16s, stop playing and they get to 19 or 20 and they haven't played for a few seasons.

"They go 'well, you know what? I am not I am not going to play footy now because I am not going into first grade to play, I am not developed enough.'

"So pathways is a big one.

"You can't expect someone to play footy at 16 and then two years later be playing first grade against potential seasoned footballers, who are 30-years-old.

"I think Covid has a little bit to do with it but you can't blame Covid for all of it because other sports have stop-started as well."

Schiffmann said it is not only disappointing for the club and players who were ready to hit the field, but for the wider community as well.

"It is disappointing for the whole community but you can't have rugby league when you don't have players," he said.

"There will be people disappointed by that but there's nothing you can do if you don't have players."

As for where the interested players go now, Schiffmann said there has been interest from other Group 19 clubs, as well as some outside the area, but no one is ready to make any decisions.