Confusion reigns over Group Nine grand final date

While NSW Rugby League have handed out two July dates, allowing for a start to training and playing, individual groups and their clubs will determine what shape competitions will take.

One of the favoured options for Group Nine is to play one full round before the traditional top five finals format.

The scenario requires the season to finish one month later than originally scheduled, on October 11.

However that plan was thrown into disarray when finishing in October was seemingly taken off the table.

Group Nine officials left the meeting on Wednesday night believing competitions were told they couldn't be played after September.

Board member Andrew Hinchcliffe admitted it came as a surprise.

Clarification from NSWRL disputed needing to finish by the end of September.

Instead the peak body reiterated that it was up to groups to decide based on available players and grounds.

"Most competitions, and certainly all Riverina-based competitions, will be able to play a full round and then adjust the finals series to match the completion date the clubs set by vote when they meet with the Group," David Skinner said.

Hinchcliffe believes there is now a better understanding of what dates could lie ahead.

"We've now got clear provisions on what the possibility might be so we can start a comp post July 18," he said.

"On the forecast clubs will be given a minimum of two weeks opportunity to train from the 1^st of the July but now we know we have to consider any other impacts like the Indigenous Knockout that will be on post September 27."

Further announcements from both the government and NSWRL are expected on Friday which could provide more information.

"There are still a lot of unknowns," Hinchcliffe said.

"Obviously with the COVID situation and the moving boundaries of that and there is still a lot of things to be worked through with clubs."

RELATED COVERAGE

The Group Nine board is yet to meet with clubs.

However they are expected to do next week when more is known about restrictions the community will face.

"A number of areas were discussed in how we might proceed with some form of new 2020 competition working on the worst case scenario on restrictions we may have," chairman Peter McDermott said.

"Once again this was only based on restrictions we still don't know yet but there was some interesting suggestions and opinions from all areas of the Bidgee region."

McDermott hopes to be able to give more clarity after Friday with premier Gladys Berejiklian expected to announce more changes to restrictions.

"NSWRL are of the opinion that this could include sport in general which might affect us," McDermott said. "So until this occurs it's a waste of time having a meeting until we see if this happens or not and see what restrictions we may have in place after the press conference."

READ MORE