FOR MACARTHUR RUGBY LEAGUE WRAP
On Sunday afternoon in the bowels of Campbelltown Stadium, Collegians players took their last deep breaths with the grand final against the back-to-back champion Camden Rams, seconds away. They were just eighty minutes from glory and the biggest victory in the club’s history.
The Collegians had been close before, appearing in grand finals in 1973 and just last year, but to raise the trophy on Sunday would have meant more for this group of players – way more than anyone would have known.
As they exited their dressing room, down the tunnel and onto the turf of Campbelltown Stadium, these Collies had a secret.
Across the field from them were the star-studded, financial juggernaut Rams.
Camden were heavily backed to win the premiership for the third-straight year despite two nail-biting encounters during the season.
What everyone else didn’t know was that the Collies were playing for nothing and everything.
The81stminute.com and MRLW can reveal Collegians players have not been paid for months leading into the premiership-decider and will not see another cent whether they won the grand final or not.
Sources linked to the Collegians confirmed the story last week.
Out of respect to the Collies players – we didn’t run the story in grand final week.
The Rams snuck away 38-30 winners on Sunday.
According to sources, the Collegians club also owes over $80,000 to suppliers with little chance of repaying those debts.
Such is the dire situation and the club’s financial woes, the entire club, including their healthy juniors, could be shut down.
But Collies officials are confident the club will survive at junior level and that sponsorships are being organised to support senior players.
“We are currently in negotiations with new sponsors to help the players that got to the grand final,” a source at the club told us.
“There’s no money missing … it’s not like that. It is the management of the finances and lack of sponsorship this year.”
The decision to cut Collies from first grade by Macarthur Rugby League had been decided before a player tied their boots on Sunday but the club concedes that the frustrations held by the players as the season went on – will see many in the squad retire from football or return to other competitions.
“These players had no choice. Obviously, they’ve had enough and want to get out of this competition.”
While the club denies the figure, others have told the81stminute.com that monies owed to players could be upwards of $120,000.
The81stminute.com understands the Collegians are pro-actively trying to push ahead and plans are already in place for Under 18s, senior women’s and a senior men’s side in a lower grade competition in 2027.
Several meetings will take place between Collies and Macarthur Rugby League this week.
