UPDATED: Wednesday 27 July, 4.20pm

Is this the end of the Sharks?

A sad end to senior rugby league in Mossman and Port Douglas looks more imminent than ever.

It follows the decision by the Mossman-Port Douglas Sharks to forfeit this weekend’s Cairns District Rugby League fixture against the top-of-the-table Brothers to save further embarrassment to the embattled club.

As reported on The Newsport earlier this week (see article below), Brothers had contacted Sharks president, Keith Pitt on Monday to offer a forfeit to the league cellar-dwellers, after they were beaten 110 to 4 by Southern Suburbs at the weekend and by 90 points by Yarrabah the previous weekend.

On Tuesday, CDRL administrator and QRL representative, Pat Bailey, warned the Sharks they risked their future in the CDRL if they accepted the forfeit.

Sharks club president, Keith Pitt, said the decision to forfeit was made after Tuesday night’s training session.

“As usual, numbers at training are low and club moral is lower,” Pitt said.

“We are a club in crisis and we are in jeopardy of folding at the end of this season.

“It’s not something that I want to see happen and it is not what I signed to do.

“But when we take a look at the lack of commitment from players and community this year, I don't really see any other option.

“When the club has only 20 guys training out of 109 that have signed to play this year, it is very disheartening for those that are turning up.”

Pitt said if there was anyone interested in keeping Mossman rugby league alive to contact him on 0439 879 025.

“We need to move now on how we can get the Sharks back to something to be proud of,” he said.

Calls by The Newsport to Bailey today, to ascertain the next step for the Sharks by the league, were not returned.

Original article: Wednesday 27 July, 8.24am

Don't forfeit! League warns Sharks

The Mossman-Port Douglas Sharks have been placed in an awkward position ahead of this weekend’s Cairns District Rugby League fixture, posing further questions about the future of the club. 

Sharks president, Keith Pitt, says this week’s opposition team - the top-of-the-ladder Brothers Cairns - has offered the bottom-of-the-table Sharks a forfeit of this weekend’s fixture at Behan Street.

It comes after the Sharks were beaten 110 to 4 by Southern Suburbs at the weekend, 98 to 6 by Yarrabah the previous weekend and battle constantly to get players to attend training and matches.

But CDRL administrator, Pat Bailey, has warned the Sharks against the move, hinting there would be severe consequences for the club’s future if the forfeit was accepted.

Pitt says the club had been put in a dubious position and were trying to come to terms with their options with little assistance from the CDRL.

“As for any response from the League, the only correspondence I have received was from the Cairns Brothers president, who has offered us the opportunity to forfeit this weekend’s match,” he said.

“I then received a call from QRL representative, Pat Bailey, who mentioned that it would be the worst move for us to make at this point.

“But do we really want to travel to Cairns and take on the best side in the competition to date?

“Do we save the boys from being dealt with what could potentially be the biggest loss in Sharks history, or do we try to hold on to what little pride remains and go out there and have a go?

“This could knock the last of that pride out of the boys. It’s a really hard decision to make.”

Pitt said at last weekend’s fixture at Gordonvale, five under-18s players competed in all three grades for the Sharks at a time when other clubs in the CDRL had problems trying to get under-18s to attend their fixtures.

“They really stepped up to the challenge and under-18's coach, Wayne Pitt, gave the boys a big wrap,” Pitt said.

“They were all keen to help out the other teams and did the job asked of them.

“As I’ve said before, it is really disheartening for those boys who are really busting their guts each week and the rest just don't seem to care.”

Bailey says a $60,000 Queensland Government grant towards a CDRL’s strategic plan will include the Sharks to help determine their future.

“The plan will look into the problems with juniors, seniors and referees throughout the league,” Bailey said. “Mossman will be included in those investigations

“The club has quite a strong junior base, but those kids need somewhere to go, and the seniors and juniors need to work together to make sure they have a future.”

Bailey said “a high-profile private company” had been employed to undertake the strategic plan, which will then become the property of the CDRL.

“This will provide the way forward for the future of the league,” she said.

When The Newsport asked Bailey whether she had visited the Mossman-Port Douglas club to offer support or assistance, her response was “I’ve been too busy”.