For the first time, the competition will be split into a northern and a southern conference with the winners playing off in the NSW Junior State Cup Final at Wollongong on April 27 and 28.

A mammoth 438 teams in total (198 in the south and 240 in the north) will all vie for their spot in the finals – an increase of 81 teams from last year.

NSW Touch Football Association general manager Dean Russell said the decision split the tournament into two conferences had been vindicated.

“We simply could not have run the tournament in its current format in Port Macquarie over three days,” he said.

“We would have been looking at another six or seven thousand people in town; it’s a great monster to have, but it is a monster.”

Three of Port Macquarie’s 10 teams are in form following their under-10 girls, under-16 boys and under-18 boys wins in the Northern Eagles championships in Taree last month.

Port Macquarie junior president Min Cotter was satisfied there would be less teams for the Makos to challenge themselves against.

They would, however, have to overcome Manly – the most successful affiliate club in state cup history.

The Sea Eagles are aiming for their eighth club championship in a row and ninth in the last 10 years.

“We probably haven’t got as many city teams as the southern conference,” Cotter said.

“But we have got the strongest affiliate in Manly and the Manly girls especially win nearly everything, so I’d never call it a country championships because there are city teams.”

A quarter-final result for their teams could earn affiliates their ticket to the final in April.

“After such a long training schedule of six months for a lot of the kids, if they win the northern conference there is no definitive champion after three days,” Cotter said.

“You have to wait until April and go to the final of the Junior State Cup which is more expensive for people.

“But it’s still generating a lot of money into town and bringing people here who haven’t been here and will come back.”

Cotter admitted the tournament had grown too large to be held in the one region although there would be between 13,000 and 14,000 people still expected in the Hastings next weekend.

“Having it cut in half means the kids are able to play more games for the cost of the tournament and the travelling they do,” she said.

“You had people staying at Macksville and down to Taree last year so I’m sure Port Macquarie can handle what we’ve got for this one.”

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