The Mustangs were excluded from the competition, initially by the group's management last October following a series of incidents in the 2014 season. The club then failed to get enough support to be included in the 2015 season at the group's annual meeting in November and then at a special meeting called by the Country Rugby League to discuss the matter in December.

Macleay was admitted to Group Three for 2014 after previously playing in Group Two. The Mustangs are the reigning Group Three premiers.

Macleay was represented this week by former president Michael Spalding along with current secretary Bruce Cain and senior vice president Peter McNamara.

"We told them that it's not us they have to convince, it's the clubs,'' Group Three secretary Barrie Smith said.

"The voting strength will be 23 at the annual meeting and they will have to get 51 per cent of the vote to play here.''

However, the group will insist a matter concerning former Mustangs president Dave Fernando be resolved. Mr Fernando was twice cited by the group after he allegedly called the group management racists, cheats and thieves on the club's Facebook page. This contributed to the club's suspension from the competition.

He failed to show both times. Mr Fernando is no longer associated with the Mustangs, although he did stand for president last year when he was beaten by Willy Lockwood. The group will have a third attempt to cite Mr Fernando and the Mustangs will be informed of the date.

Mr Smith said as the Mustangs are no longer a current club, a list of potential players for 2016 will have to be supplied to the group. Mr Smith this complies with a Country Rugby League bylaw. He said currently 19 former Macleay players turn out with northern Group Three clubs in various grades. Others are in the Hastings League. Macleay officials were confident they'd have no problems getting sufficient players for all grades next year.

"There would probably be an impact on our northern clubs, but because the players would be returning to Macleay this wouldn't really matter as much,'' Mr Smith said.

"We also told them they'd have to clean up their act on the field. In 2014 they had 15 players either sent off or cited.

"This was more than the other clubs put together.''

Mr Smith said the Macleay officials informed the group that the club is looking for a new president, as Mr Lockwood has since moved to Sydney, where his son is part of the South Sydney development program. Macleay would have to have all the relevant documentation into the group by November 1 in time for the November 15 annual meeting. This is no different to any other club.

Mr Smith said there were no Country Rugby League representatives involved this week even though regional area manager Kevin Hill had asked Mr Cain to let him know when the meeting was to be held.

"But really there was no need for them to be there,'' Mr Smith said.

"There was nothing resolved this week. We just let Macleay know what had to be done so they can seek admission for next year.''