Former Manning Cricket Association president David Burley believes the state that cricket has found itself in across the Mid North Coast is due to its decision to dismiss the plan to introduce the competitive league.

President of the Macleay Valley Cricket Association Matthew Brennan agrees the concept could have been a positive move for cricket within the region however, there are areas where it would be a downfall and it could have easily led to a worse situation than what they are in now.

“If the games were to be played at Port Macquarie it would make more sense and it would give the competition more of a chance,” Brennan explained.

“Half of the Rovers first grade side is made up of people under the age of 18 – this creates an issue with travel and especially if they need to head to Taree to play, it turns into a really long day.”

The first grade competition in the Macleay Valley only began on the weekend and it came close to collapsing and forcing the top two grades to combine.

The Super League would have involved the top clubs from the three Mid North Coast Associations playing against each other in a competition.

Brennan believes it would be more beneficial to have each association submit a side or two of their best players across all clubs and he doesn’t attribute the current struggles of cricket in the region to not forming a Super League.

“We are just going through a transitional period where people have aged and given up the sport while a lot of the younger players just aren’t quite ready to make that step up into first grade,” Brennan said.

“The junior grades in the Macleay Valley are really strong and in a few years the youngsters will be playing at the top level.”