'If we didn't, we'd be dead': Why Penrith Emus will join the John I Dent Cup

A class war between Sydney's east and west. The Shute Shield's power clubs and the battlers from Penrith fighting to survive in what Emus club president McColl slams as "a corrupt system". That's why he wants thousands of prospective Penrith players to filter into ACT pathways, turning their back on NSW for a shot with the Brumbies.

"The bullying and political shit we've had to put up with, I don't have the stomach for it, quite frankly," McColl said.

"I'm an old front-rower, mate, so confrontation doesn't daunt me."

It's just that he'd rather deal with rugby issues than boardroom battles. That's why the Penrith Emus view a move into the John I Dent Cup as "a breath of fresh air" after being welcomed by ACT officials with open arms.

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Penrith will join the ACT and Southern NSW Rugby's premier competition in 2022, taking hold of a 12-month lifeline after being axed from the Shute Shield for the second time since 2018.

The Emus will field teams in first grade, second grade, women's and colts competitions. Finer details are still to be sorted through but Penrith juniors could filter into ACT pathways in a major boost for the Brumbies' Super Rugby program.

Four clubs stretching from the Blue Mountains to Luddenham and Mt Druitt filter into the Penrith system - and a look at the success of the Panthers in the NRL suggests there will be plenty of untapped talent for the Brumbies to swoop on.

"That's what we want. Both parties want that," McColl said.

"It's a pathway [players] would prefer because there's a lot of prejudice that goes on at those levels in Sydney. They favour GPS schools.

"We had 14 players in [NSWRL under 16s] Harold Matthews teams with Panthers, Wests Tigers, South Sydney and Eastern Suburbs. That's the quality of players we've got. These guys are excited about the future.

"Quite frankly, if we didn't do this, we'd be dead. We're a district, not a sub-district.

"I've been yelling it from the mountain tops, Penrith junior rugby league have 9000 junior registered players, and you can't tell me they're all happy.

"There's a huge Polynesian community in western Sydney, and these guys don't play Aussie rules, they don't play soccer. They either play union or league.

"That's what it's all about, providing a pathway for aspirational players."

While a move into the John I Dent Cup ranks would provide Penrith juniors with a pathway to premier rugby, the Emus are already locked in a battle to retain their existing senior stars amid concern rival Shute Shield clubs will poach players.

McColl says the "raping and pillaging" of Penrith's playing stocks started long ago but he believes many will stay.

Some Canberra clubs are privately concerned about the financial implications of travelling to Sydney - though others point to the fact Penrith will effectively travel every second week.

McColl says the club will work to secure more sponsorship support to make the travel viable, adamant players are willing to spend time on the road to play for the Emus.

"We'll get a big bus, like a moving billboard, you'll see us from 100 miles away," McColl said.

"There will be people who want to play rugby for Penrith and get in front of people looking for Brumbies.

"It's a very corrupt system in Sydney, because there are plenty of blokes who move to strong clubs after being told that if they do that, they'll get a look in at the Waratahs, which I think is just disgraceful."

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