This is because of the unavailability of the Port Macquarie Regional Stadium and the Harry Elliott Oval at Tuncurry at various times during the year.

"Our season goes for 18 weeks - that's 36 days (Saturdays and Sundays)," Mr Smith said.

"For 12 of these days we cannot use the regional stadium or the Harry Elliott Oval as they have been booked for other events since I did the first draw."

Mr Smith said the group lodged a draw to the Port Macquarie-Hastings and Great Lakes Councils in November. However, the stadiums have since been booked for events that inlcude a touch football tournament, Australian Rugby League Schoolboys and the Country under 16s at Port Macquarie and the Country under 14 and 15 championships at Tuncurry.

The under 16 championships will be played April 16, the Australian Schoolboys from June 17 to July 7 while the CRL will use the Elliott Oval on June 18 and 19.

"Because of the number of teams involved in the 14s and 15s the CRL has booked both fields at the Elliott Oval," Mr Smith explained. That leaves Forster-Tuncurry without a ground."

Mr Smith appreciates that it is a good promotion for Group Three and rugby league to have these events played in this area. However, he said it makes putting together a draw where all teams get even home and away games a 'logistical nightmare'.

"It makes it more difficult when we have the two Port Macquarie clubs playing out of the same stadium," he said.

He said it was suggested to both clubs that they move some matches to Wauchope or even Lake Cathie, but both were reluctant to do so.

"There's no other ground in the Great Lakes that the Hawks can use," Mr Smith added. The Peter Barclay Field, across the road from the Harry Elliott Oval, is the home of the Forster-Tuncurry Dolphins on Saturdays and would be free on a Sunday.

"But it's not fenced," Mr Smith pointed out. "The club wouldn't be able to make a quid."

Mr Smith said matches have been moved to the second week of the split round on July 9-10. Initially Taree City asked for the second week of the split round to be stand alone when the Bulls play Wingham in the annual fund raiser for CanAssist on Saturday July 9.

This was originally going to be the case.

"Now we'll have to play the Port City/Port Macquarie game on the Saturday and the Forster-Tuncurry/Macleay Valley on the Sunday," Mr Smith said.

"I think we're going to have to include more split weekends into our draw in the future."

The new draw was sent to clubs this week.

"I hope that's the last one," Mr Smith said.