Maitland Blacks are assured a spot in the Newcastle Hunter Rugby Union finals unless The Waratahs win an appeal against being docked eight competition points and fined $1000 for a breach of the player points system.
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The breach related to the classification of prop William Soe as a Waratahs junior and therefore worth zero points.
Soe played 57 games over four years for the Tahs before leaving the club to play rugby league. He returned to rugby at Easts in 2007 where as well as playing colts (under-20s) he made a handful of appearances in their under-18s side, nullifying his status as a one-club junior.
Blacks co-coach Mick Hickling said the Blacks wanted to earn their spot in the finals and would push for a bonus-point win to secure third spot.
“Regardless of the result of The Waratahs’ appeal, we want to win and win well so that we earn our spot in the finals and finish third and get a double chance,” Hickling said. “It’s certainly going to make Saturday’s game interesting. It’s anyone’s guess how they will react, but we are certainly expecting a tough game.”
The Blacks will be without key players Michael Howell, Adam McCarthy, Jordy Lantry and Rhys Watson, but are hopeful Jye Estatheo will be fit to partner Chris Logan in the centres.
Maitland will also be thrilled with the form show by McCarthy’s replacement at halfback Ben Taylor.
Regardless of the result of The Waratahs’ appeal, we want to win and win well so that we earn our spot in the finals and finish third and get a double chance
- Blacks co-coach Mick Hickling
Soe’s reclassification resulted in the Tahs exceeding the 24-point cap in five-first grade games, in which they recorded three bonus-point wins and two losses.
Instead of deducting the full 15 points, the NHRU fixtures committee issued an eight-point penalty with seven points suspended.
The Waratahs had been in equal fifth place on 54 points alongside Maitland, who they meet at Marcellin Park in what was to be a shoot out for the final place in the finals. However, they now sit on 46 points and out of contention.
Soe has not played since breaking his arm in a 21-10 win over Hamilton on July 2.
The Tahs have met with legal representative Nick Dan and plan to appeal against the decision.
The Soe case has been under review for more than a month as the NHRU sought paperwork from Hunter Juniors.
“The timing is disappointing,” Tahs rugby manager Dennis Hurst said.
“They made a decision on Friday but didn’t want to take away from the divisional finals and didn’t notify us by email until Monday. We are disappointed about the whole process. There are no guidelines saying you need to check a,b,c. They just say that clubs are accountable. Willie’s junior history goes back more than a decade.”
Wanderers were also found to have erred in classifying Elliott Jennings as a “new player” to the sport and worth zero points. Jennings joined the Two Blues from the Maitland rugby league club.
Before that was at the Knights (juniors) and in 2013 doubled up and played a few games for the Blacks. Like Soe, he should have been classed as “non-local” and worth three points.
Jennings status put the Two Blues over the cap in first grade in round one during an early-season moratorium and warranted a fine.
His value also put them over in a second grade game for which they were slugged three competition and dropped from second to third on the ladder.
