A local footballteam has been forced to pull out mid-season due to the bumber cotton harvest.
It's quite surprising to think that a football team can go from runners up one year to not even being able to field a team the next year. The Wee Waa Panthers have managed to do this thanks to Mother Nature.The Group four rugby league team was strong enough to make the grand final last season but this year it's had to pull out of the competition all together.
A boom for the local cotton season has meant a bust for the local Panthers.
"We've had rain and a few [people] have left town," says Steve Bartz, the Club President.
"We've got work commitments with the cotton harvest, which is great and I hope that everyone makes plenty of money but it's made the rugby league club struggle," says Steve.
It seems that not even the signing of an international coach could save the Wee Waa team, as they had to make the tough decision of giving up the boots for the year.
It's the first year the Wee Waa Panthers hasn't competed in the group four rugby league competition in more than 17 years.
"We hope that we can improve next year but another big harvest is on the cards with the current water availability, so we will have to spread our wings wide and see who we attract to the town."
As for that international coach, Semesa Cadrakilhei, well he is off to coach the Fijian team but hopes to return to Wee Waa in future years.
Steve hopes in the upcoming years the Wee Waa Panthers may be able to come back better and stronger and go that one step further and win the title.
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