DESPITE proclamations that we are on the verge of seeing the resurrection of the Cannons and the Comets, the chances of either returning in the immediate future appears remote.

The Brumbies, who have been smacked by a $500,000 reduction from the ARU coupled with a financial loss again this year, have already indicated they are seeking a better deal from the ACT Government. The argument being that GWS receives substantially more in government assistance than either the Brumbies or the Raiders yet play only three competition games in Canberra. There is also the fact that Brumbies’ and Raiders’ players live in Canberra.

It wouldn’t surprise me to see the Brumbies and the Raiders presenting a united front when preparing a funding argument to the ACT Government.

Meanwhile, Cricket Australia appears unready to re-introduce a Canberra team into the men’s domestic one-day series.

There was speculation that ACT Cricket would combine with NSW Cricket to field a combined Canberra/NSW country team but NSW Cricket chief executive Andrew Jones has indicated that won’t be happening.

Canberra’s place in the national cricket landscape is as a centre for development; as a base for talented cricketers from the ACT and surrounding areas such as Wagga Wagga and Albury to receive expert coaching from the likes of Andrew Dawson and Mark Higgs. It is what Canberra does very well. You only need to look at the number of players who have been developed in the ACT currently playing elsewhere.

Cricket NSW appears happy for this type of arrangement to prepare players for the Futures League, but not as part of a joint team for the domestic one-day series.

With the ACT effectively forced to go it alone it would be a hard slog to convince Cricket Australia that we will be competitive and that there is enough corporate support.

It would seem the prospect of a reincarnation of the Comets is a little way off.

In terms of the NBL, it would appear the chances of the Cannons returning in the immediate future are just as remote.

The NBL had been seeking prospective bids from centres such as Canberra, Brisbane, Hobart and Geelong as part of an expanded league. The prospect of an expansion comes at a time when NBL is attempting to claw its way back into the sporting marketplace.

It was thought a Canberra bid would involve surrounding country cities and be very much a team for the ACT and country NSW. Initially there was great enthusiasm, but as the bidding process continued it became clear that it was going to be a formidable task.

There isn’t the corporate support or the player depth. There had been talk that the University of Canberra may be interested, but it has its hands full after taking over the licence of the Canberra Capitals in the WNBL.

The concept of a Canberra team in the NBL appears to have gone off the boil.