CSU are looking to go in a new direction in an attempt to make the club more competitive.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
After three years of poor results on the field, Reddies are looking at different avenues to help them attract players to club and create long term success.
New president Ryan Giacca wants to be in a position to emulate some of the success of the women’s team.
Having a bigger presence among the university population is just one of the approaches Reddies are looking to take.
“We’re trying to interest a few of the younger guys and get back into the students at the uni and see if we can get a few of them across,” Giacca said.
“I don’t know really what direction it is going to be from here, but we have to try and improve.
“Off the field it has been pretty solid culturally and now we are trying to get the results off the pitch.”
CSU have only won three first grade games in the last three seasons.
They were winless in 2016 before picking up the one last year.
Reddies scored two this season, both over winless Wagga City, to narrowly avoid the wooden spoon.
However they were beaten by at least 40 points on nine occasions.
Traditionally CSU have drawn a lot of their players from those studying to become teachers but it has not been the case in more recent history as demographics change.
Giacca believes the club is keen to be on the front foot this time around.
“Sometimes we have a habit of leaving things too late and started doing these types of conversations in February and March when they need to be happening in August and September,” he said.
“We’re really getting a head start.”
Giacca moved into the presidency on Wednesday night.
After being at the helm for seven of the past eight years, including the past two, Andy Bedford is looking to take a step back.
Bedford is unsure if he will continue in his role as women’s sevens coach after their grand final win.
He thought the decisions over the club’s future are aimed at creating a more long term plan for success.
As part of the approach the possibility of creating strong links to Wagga juniors was discussed after having a 16-year-old part of their third grade set up this year.
“We had Patty Prest playing for us this year and he was great,” Bedford said.
“Having kids his age coming into third grade and blooding them has been great.
“We’re looking at the possibility link to the juniors in the area.”
The viability of a third grade team, particularly after their struggles to get players commit to travel, is another topic being discussed.