Old Bar coach and president Jamie Moorehead believes Group Three should move quickly.

This would be at the expense of the popular league tag competition.

Group Three was a league tag pioneer, establishing a competition in 2009, well before most other country areas. However, Moorehead, who assisted with coaching the Old Bar side in the recently completed Hastings Nines women’s competition, believes it’s now time for rugby league to replace league tag.

“There’s no more pathways for league tag anymore – it’s all rugby league. We should be working towards starting a rugby league competition at senior level in 2020, while keeping league tag going in the juniors, where the basics can be taught.’’

He is confident the majority of Group Three clubs would be able to field women’s league teams.

“We (Old Bar), Wingham and Forster all had sides in the Hastings comp as did Wauchope,’’ he pointed out.

While Taree City wasn’t represented, Taree Panthers had a strong contingent in the junior grades.

There were also players from Port Macquarie sprinkled among the Hastings sides.

Hastings League president Geoff Connor hopes to start a women’s 13-a-side competition next year, involving Hastings League and Group Three clubs.

Mr Connor said this could involve six or eight clubs. However, he was confident a league competition would not impact on league tag.

Meanwhile the Group Three women’s team to meet Group Two at Kempsey’s Verge Street Oval on Saturday December 15 had a training run on Wednesday evening at Wauchope.

A North Coast side will be named at the conclusion of the group game.