NSWRL confirms change is coming for rugby league in Western Rams region

Talk around structure of competitions in the Western Rams area has been rife since the One State NSWRL Strategic Plan was announced by the state's governing body at the end of last month.

One of the objectives in that plan was the restructure of the state into six zones which preserve historical structures but create more efficient competition possibilities.

There's no details surrounding changes to the Group 10 or neighbouring Group 11 competitions in 2021 but it is believed a proposal relating to a possible western-wide competition is in the works.

And NSWRL chief executive Trodden has now confirmed things will look different in the future.

"I think there's a reasonable prospect that over the next few years that there will be innovation in relation to competition structure," he said.

"It's not change for change's sake. It's change to try and improve things for everybody and that's the object of the exercise.

"The other thing is over the next few years in relation to the way the competition is set-up, there may well be a little bit of an evolution.

"We may not get straight to the final solution in our first crack at it but I know out there (Western) that there is huge potential to do things better than we have been doing in past years so it's certainly what we'll be working towards."

Trodden added he expects more specifics to be announced in the coming weeks to provide some certainty for the region's clubs.

The Group 10 annual general meeting is on Sunday, November 8, but it is understood Group 10's board has already been issued with a proposal ahead of that meeting.

Talk around a possible Western League and the merging of Group 11 and Group 10 is nothing new.

The success of the Western Youth League under 18s competition this year sparked it again but it is always spoken about with some hesitation within some clubs in what is the largest association in the state.

Talk around potential tiers and changes often creates fears some clubs will be pushed into lower divisions or forced to travel great distances but Trodden said there's no need to fear what's coming.

"I don't think anybody should be frightened of change," he said.

"It may be that there are some solutions that are not better for some and worse for others but better for everyone.

"If we can get the competition balance of competitions right then competitions for everyone therefore become more attractive and if the competitions are better than people will want to play longer, as well.

"The object is not to have winners and losers in this whole exercise. It's for everyone to be a winner and for the game to be a winner."

The Western Rams region fields the Group 11, Group 10, Castlereagh League, Woodbridge Cup, and Mid West senior premiership races.