TAREE City will move for the introduction of under 17s and 19s competitions in Group Three Rugby League in 2021.
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This would replace under 18s.
The NSWRL is expected to release a statement this week outlining when community football can start. However, only three Group Three clubs, Old Bar, Forster-Tuncurry and Macleay Valley have indicated a desire to play this season, the others citing concerns about the various COVID-19 restrictions as the reason to sit 2020 out. Old Bar, Forster and Macleay could play in another group by invitation this year, although the options appear limited.
Taree City official Gary Bridge said it would be disappointing for players in their final season of under 18s to miss out this year.
"Under 18s is usually the final time they get to play with the mates they started playing football with in the juniors,'' he said.
"Kids leave the area after under 18s to go to work or uni. And not all the players move through to the senior ranks. So if we switch to under 19s next year the players who would have missed out this year will get that opportunity.''
He said the same applies for under 16s, the final year in the junior grades.
Mr Bridge said the under 17 grade could be incorporated into the junior league or be adopted by the senior clubs.
He played junior football with Chatham Cundle in the then Taree and District Junior Rugby League before moving to under 18s with Taree United.
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Mr Bridge said the club would move the motion at the group's annual meeting in November. If accepted, Mr Bridge said 2021 could be a test case for the format.
"If the majority of clubs aren't happy, we can revert to under 18s in 2022,'' he added.
Mr Bridge added an under 17s, 19s, league tag and first grade format could be something for clubs to consider in the future given the doubts over the continued viability of reserve grade.
The Bulls will also move to play a three round competition in 2021. This would mean a kickoff in mid-March, breaking for Easter and the June long weekend and finishing in early September. Group Three ran with a three rounds during the 1970s to the mid-1990s. This was dropped when the competition was revamped in 1995.
Mr Bridge reasons that more games would give clubs greater opportunity to raise money to help boost the coffers after this year's COVID-19 ravaged season.
"This year we started training in January yet the first game wasn't supposed to be until May 2. It makes more sense to train in January and then start playing in March,'' he said.