Southern Inland will have a year without premiers after the board confirmed their plans on Thursday night.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
September 25 was the latest grand final date Southern Inland were willing to push the season back to.
In order for the top two teams to get in the required two weeks training, the regional lockdown needed to be lifted by this weekend.
While the Riverina has been granted more freedoms in time, the return of community sport was not approved.
Southern Inland president Warwick Grant could not see another option forward.
As such the board elected to call an end to the season.
"We have called a halt to the season as we believe there is no foreseeable lifting for these things," Grant said.
"It is not the way you would like to run a season but it's unprecedented times as they say.
"Hopefully this is the one and only year we have to do it."
READ MORE
Grant also confirmed there was no change in the approach not to have premiers as no finals series was able to be played.
"Everybody was unanimous when we first decided if you don't play a finals series you haven't earned your premiership," he said.
With the full 18 rounds able to be completed, the minor premierships have been handed out.
Unbeaten Wagga City made it two straight in first grade, and also claimed the third grade minor premiership.
Hay finished on top of the ladder in second grade while Griffith capped their return to the competition by taking out the women's minor premiership.
Wagga City Daniel Ribot is disappointed by how the season has unfolded.
"It is what it is but we would have liked it if they had of held out for a bit longer," Ribot said.
"It is disappointing SIRU have had to make the call they had to make thanks to the incompetence of the state government and the double standards."
Ribot was left to question why community sport was left out when other events will return.
"The races are ok, gyms are alright as is having a bunch of people in the movie theatre," he said. "This is not based on science or people's health but just on cash."
No team has got within 19 points of Wagga City as they dominated the competition for a second year running.
Ribot has been supportive of the decision however he admitted it has left a bitter taste for many within the club.
"I think our members are very bemused and disappointed the premiership wasn't awarded given others have seen fit to," he said.
Those include competitions managed by NSW Rugby.