54 — Centralian Advocate, Friday, March 22, 2013 PUB: CADV DATE: 22-MAR-2013 PAGE: 54 COLOR: C M Y K CENTRAL AUSTRALIAN RUGBY FOOTBALL LEAGUE Saturday 23rd March 2013 9am - 12pm Yeperenye Shopping Centre $100 per child Contact Nathan Coelli for more information on 0418 615 658 Central Australian Rugby Football League JUNIOR RUGBY LEAGUE SIGN ON DAY PREMIERS 2012/13 A huge thank you must firstly go to our sponsors... Congratulations to our players, coaches and support staff finally rewarded for all your hard work! Special thanks to the ‘old boys’ and supporters who turned up in numbers to watch us take the Premiership, and to our families and kids who put on a great performance cheering us onto the field! Gapview Hotel ProBuild NT Araluen Taxation Services (ATS) Police Credit Union Carlton United Breweries (CUB) Prime Cut Meat Supplies Crowne Plaza Centralian Sports Landmark Peter Kittle Motor Company Hourglass Jewellers SPORT Redtails need to fly high Dale Fletcher TIME is running out for the Central Australia Redtails as the NTFL newcomers try to book their place into the big league. The concept was an overwhelm- ing success last October when the local boys won three of its four trial matches. But the next step is taking way too long to happen. The AFLNT board has released an online survey, which clearly states their position on the con- cept, they don’t want it. Negativity and further hurdles for the Redtails have been handed to the side with deadline day looming as June 1. Money is always going to be an issue and potential sponsors would like some reassurance from the competition before spending their money. Who would put money towards something that may not happen? I know I wouldn’t. The club needs $700,000 per season to be part of the NTFL and I believe support would come from all angles once the green light is given to the club. Redtails founding member Rob Clarke has done a mountain of work to get this side on to the park and this concept simply cannot die right now. Clarke received a letter from the AFLNT board this week outlining what they need to see before any further planning can happen. This letter is just another hurdle for the Redtails to jump to make it to where they rightfully belong. Footballers and supporters alike are waiting eagerly for the next Redtails match and the next few months are crucial to make this a reality. AFLNT CEO Tony Frawley has said the competition will not rush the Redtails and expand the competition until the side has long-term security. It’s now up to local support, sponsors, corporate partners and the Northern Territory Govern- ment to bring together the funds required to get the Redtails into the NTFL. The Northern Territory Gov- ernment has enough money to support the Melbourne Demons in the AFL, after announcing a long- term deal through Tourism NT this week, so what about a team within our own borders? Surely, it’s only a matter of time before the Government comes out to support the concept. If the so- called $700,000 per season was guaranteed for the next five seasons, a green light for the Redtails would only be a matter of time. Some may ask why are the Redtails taking so long? What is the issue? I think it’s a two-way street. The more support the Redtails show the AFLNT board and the NTFL, the more chance we will see the Redtails fly from next season and beyond. As a competition, the NTFL have to realise how much of a free kick this is for expansion and realise how successful the Tiwi Bombers have been since entering the league in 2007/2008. The powers that be in Darwin need to be aware that the Redtails steam train will not stop until Central Australia is represented in the NTFL. Bowhunters right on target ARCHERY Warren Thomson Ronn Slusser and Tim Wissman will be participating in the Australian Bowhunters Safari Picture: COREY SINCLAIR THE Australian Bowhunters Associ- ation National Safari will be held out of the eastern states for the first time when it be- gins this weekend in Alice Springs. A massive field of 400 archers will take part in the event at the Dead Centre Bowhunter Club, which starts on Sunday and goes until April 1. Archers will take part in traditional target events between Sunday and Tuesday, before trialling a new round of shooting on Thursday. Next Friday and Sat- urday will see archers take aim at two- dimensional animals, before moving to three- dimensional models of animals next Sunday and Monday. Dead Centre Bowhunter Club mem- ber Tim Wissman said the club can’t wait to start the event. ‘‘It’s the biggest event we’ve ever hosted and we are very excited,’’ Mr Wissman said. ‘‘The club has put in a lot of effort into getting our facility up to scratch such as building a shower block so par- ticipants can camp on- site and we’ve also put a new archery range in. ‘‘The infrastructure work has been tre- mendous and we are all looking forward to having 400 people tak- ing part.’’ There will be about 60 locals taking part in the nine days of archery and Wissman said the Dead Centre Bow- hunter Club has a lot of sharp shooters who could win a medal. ‘‘We have some very good shots in the club and three of our mem- bers won medals at last year’s event in Mildura we will do well from juniors right through to the veterans.’’ Archers will have their equipment inspected tomorrow before action begins on Sunday. Bulls rumours false RUGBY LEAGUE Warren Thomson Chuck Ritenour ‘ I know more than half the squad have committed and there are still a few players we have got a hold of yet ’ Chuck Ritenour Memo Bulls president MEMO Bulls vice- president Chuck Ritenour ruled out ru- mours that the side didn’t have any players for the upcoming 2013 season. There were whispers of the club not having players, but Ritenour said they will have good numbers ahead of the club’s sign-on day on Sunday. ‘‘I know more than half the squad have committed and there are still a few players we have got a hold of yet,’’ he said. ‘‘Some of the players will be recruiting a few new players and other new players are wel- come to sign with us on Sunday. ‘‘We will have our first training on Tues- day with Justin Dowson coaching, but we are looking for a new coach as he won’t be able to coach us due to work and family commit- ments.’’ The club will be look- ing for more players on the books as they struggled for numbers and regularly played without a bench last season. Off the field, the club is looking good as it looks to survive without the support of the Memo Club. ‘‘We appreciate Crackers for picking us up last year, and we’ve now moved to the more family friendly RSL Club as our new base. ‘‘We’ve got a majority of sponsors back on board and we are wait- ing on a few more to see if they get on board. ‘‘The club is now in a good position with the RSL Club as we now have a place to go to.’’ Sunday’s sign-on day begins at 2pm at the RSL Club and sign-on is available for the sen- ior team along with the juniors.