Northern NSW National Rugby League development officer Ben Stewart said numbers of junior players had remained pretty constant despite the pandemic hovering overhead.

It meant he was confident there would be minimal after-effects in 12 months' time with the junior rugby league season set to kick off on July 18.

"A positive for rugby league is that it's been able to get some sort of competition played," he said.

"Looking at stats from some of the clubs, last year we had 2070 participants in junior footy and this year given the circumstances, we've got 1830 registered to date.

"That's a really good number for our area and the kids have hung in there."

With women's rugby league continuing to grow, Stewart said preliminary plans were in place to keep females around Port Macquarie and the Hastings involved in the code despite the Hastings League cancelling their 2020 season.

One of the ways was to have regular skills sessions throughout the next six months.

"That way it keeps the girls thinking about rugby league and we want to keep upskilling the girls because it will mean a stronger competition down the track," Stewart said.

"We're hoping there might be some sort of avenue to try and get a competition off the ground given rugby union are going ahead with their female competition."

Numbers of junior players have continued to grow and while Stewart admitted there was concern across every code that players may not return after a year off, rugby league was well positioned.

"Over the last three years our numbers have grown year-on-year; from 2018 until now we're getting more participants every year which is fantastic."

The impacts of the pandemic are also being felt across some of the summer sports with cricket the next code in the firing line.

A lack of funding across the board as a result of the pandemic looks likely to result in the cancellation of carnivals and national titles.

Hastings River District Junior Cricket Association president Merv Bourke felt there would be fewer development opportunities for local players in the next 12 months.

"Pathway carnivals will form a bit of a hole but it's almost like someone being injured and going on standby," he said.

"Everything will be on a delay in terms of things happening, but we'll hopefully be back to normal in 12 months."

It would mean fewer opportunities for sponsorships which could affect some clubs.

"In terms of local cricket, I can see us being impacted with sponsorship because money will be tight and that's something we've got to put up with," he said.

"But hopefully it will only be for 12 months."

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