The long-serving divisional chairman was re-elected for an 11^th straight term in Western’s top job at the Rams’ annual general meeting at Wellington on Monday night.

The Cowra-based volunteer usurps the previous mark set by Jim Fawkner, who was president of Western between 1991 and 2000.

McDonald has been working as a rugby league administrator for the better part of half-a-century, having begun as secretary of the Cowra Magpies in the late 1970s before taking on the same role with Group 10 in 1996.

He’ll again be the Group 10 secretary in 2019 and will chair the Western Rams division as well, a role he’s held virtually unopposed since 2009.

“I was challenged by Bob Walsh one year but I won that ballot,” McDonald said.

“I’m very proud to represent the Western Division. We’re held in high esteem throughout Country Rugby League and it’s a privilege to be involved.”

Western’s junior representative program has been the envy of most in recent seasons, with the under 16s making the last three championship finals, winning twice, while the under 18s made deciders in 2016 and 2017, winning the latter.

McDonald said ensuring Western is again at the forefront of junior excellence was a focus for his board, which will include Castlereagh League secretary Bryson Luff (vice chair) and Dubbo's Ross McDermott (vice chair), while Blayney's Christine Smith was once again elected unopposed as delegate to the Country Rugby League Junior Council.

“We’ll concentrate on the kids, the 16s and 18s; they’ve been great the last two years,” he said.

‘”Kurt [Hancock] into the 18s and we expect them to be better and Tony Woolnough in the 16s coach and he’s very experienced too and we’re confident they’ll continue their run there.”

Western trialled a premiers’ challenge in 2018 with Group 10 champions Bathurst Panthers and Group 11 premiers Forbes Magpies playing off at the end of the season.

The Magpies took out the first NAB Western Premiers Challenge in September but McDonald admits the “reception was cold” when discussing a second staging of the event.

“We’re toying with the idea of a stand-alone weekend for it. Not sure when, though. It’s still on the agenda,” he added.