GROUP Three Rugby League Clubs have voted to play a 16 round competition-proper in 2021.
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This is two more than was proposed for the aborted 2020 season.
All eight Group Three clubs were represented at the annual meeting held at the Wingham Services Club where the format for 2021 was decided.
"They're all keen to play football after what happened this season,'' Group Three chief executive Mal Drury said.
The clubs voted against playing a competition this year due to concerns about COVID-19 restrictions.
However, clubs were against playing a three round competition in 2021, with the general consensus being that two rounds is too short and three rounds too long. So season 2021 will be two rounds and two games.
Clubs also wanted an earlier start to the competition than was proposed for this year. Had the 2020 season gone ahead the first round would have kicked off on Saturday May 2.
"The clubs all said this was too late,'' Mr Drury said.
There were a number of factors contributing to the May 2 start, including Easter, Anzac Day falling on a Saturday and clashes with representative rugby league.
Good Friday is on April 2 next year, with the first round of the Group Three competition to be held on April 10 and 11.
The Indigenous All Stars/Group Three All Stars games will be played on Saturday April 24, meaning there'll be no Group Three football that weekend.
The June long weekend will also be free along with a further free weekend in July to be used for any postponed games if required.
The grand final will be played on Sunday, September 12.
"The clubs said ending the season in late August was too early. We did intend to play our grand final this year in September,'' Mr Drury said.
Mr Drury said the mood of the meeting was optimistic and all clubs were confident of meeting all commitments in the four grades in 2021.
As expected there were no changes to the groups management, with Wayne Bridge the chairman, Mal Drury the chief executive and Warren Blissett the registrar.
Board members are Charlie Andrews from Taree, Zac Newcombe from Port Macquarie, Geoff Kerr from Wingham and Jared Woodhouse from Taree.
The group's next general meeting will be held in February when the season's format will be finalised.