Yesterday perhaps, but certainly not today.

The cultural change in Rugby League, bush or city, has arrived with a bang.

Here is an example: The Moss Vale Dragons playing in the Group 6 have two players expected to make an impact when the season kicks off early April.

They are Jeco Makatoa, a huge centre from Samoa and Mason Tavete-Hurst, as strong as an ox, a backrow forward from Moss Vale High.

Makatoa is already looming as captain material.

Both are pleasing new coach Steve Folkes with their attitude towards training.

Andrew Hicks, son of England international, Merv Hicks “the pale whale,” is hoping to have some input into these players as an assistance coach to Folkes.

We can talk football all day long but what is today dominating Rugby League within Group 6 is the financial struggle most clubs are facing.

The writing may be on the wall for clubs such as Mittagong, Moss Vale, Bowral and Robertson. Could it be that they may merge to cope with the costs that beset all clubs today? The clubs mentioned could merge under the banner of the Southern Highlands.

Each club would retain their junior teams for competition within the Highlands.

Emotion will run rife but emotion doesn’t pay the bills.

Times are tough when it comes to running a rugby league club in rural NSW.

Moss Vale Dragons have been forced to cancel a major fundraising event scheduled for February 17 due to a lack of support.

The club was hoping to attract a full house of 250 to the Moss Vale Imperial Club but have fell well short.

Businesses, who were expected to pay $480 for a table of eight, turned their back.

Ironically, one of the guests for the evening, Steve “Blocker” Roach was forced to cancel his engagement due to commitments at Fox Sports.

Undaunted, Daniel Bennett, a Moss Vale Dragons committeeman has come up with a gem of an idea to raise the $15,000 the club needs to compete in first grade this season.

“We want to sell 150 tickets in a raffle at $100 each with the winner receiving the $15,000 exclusive sponsorship rights and all the perks that go with it,” said Bennett.

President Paul Maloney is excited about the raffle.

“I think we can entice 150 businessmen to buy a $100 ticket in the hope of being our major sponsor,” he said.

The sponsorship prize includes four A reserve tickets to the NRL grand final, courtesy of the CEO of the NRL, Todd Greenberg. There is some good news. Moss Vale Cruise and Travel have donated air fares and accommodation anywhere in Australia for the Moss Vale Dragons “player of the year.”