Mr Burley added the Manning, Hastings and Macleay associations are now paying the price for not adopting the concept.

Along with Craig Martin and Duane Sheather, Mr Burley led a push to establish a competition involving first grade (or A-grade) teams from the three Mid North Coast associations about 16 years ago. The three associations met to discuss the concept. No change was mooted to the minor grade competitions. 

While there was some interest, particularly from Macleay, the idea failed to get enough support, mainly because of opposition from Hastings clubs. Mr Burley tried to revive the idea when he took over as Manning Cricket president three years ago, but again ran into roadblocks and nothing eventuated. 

Mr Burley is adamant the current situation with first grade cricket within the Mid North Coast Council shows how short sighted the officials who opposed the move were.

“We’re down to four clubs here and there’s only four in Port Macquarie now,’’ he said.

The situation in the Macleay is even more dire. No A-grade games have been played there yet this season because clubs are struggling for numbers.

Mr Burley isn’t suggesting establishing a Super League would have been the solution to all the problems. However, he believes it would have created a stronger, compact competition that would have attracted better players.

“We could get two or three teams from there and the same at Port,’’ he said.

“You’d get one or two from Macleay to get a six to eight team competition.’’

He concedes travel would be an issue, but he added that other sports, including Group Three Rugby League and Football Mid North Coast’s Premier League have boundaries that take in clubs from the Manning and Macleay areas. Continued highway improvements would also reduce travel time.

However, he thinks the Super League concept is dead, believing there’s no renewed enthusiasm for the idea.

“We had a real chance to do something positive for cricket on the Mid North Coast,’’ he said.

Meanwhile Mr Burley backs Manning Cricket’s bid to ensure a Great Lakes team is involved in next year’s Manning first grade. He maintains Great Lakes should be playing first grade this season.

“There’s three North Coast Zone (junior) representatives in their second grade team,’’ he said.

“There wouldn’t be another side in any grade here that has three current North Coast players.’’

Mr Burley added that at least two would be playing in the Manning First XI if they were in a first grade team this season.

“Jay Withers and Liam Simpson would open the batting, but they won’t get picked from second grade,’’ he said.

In last Friday’s Times Manning Cricket secretary Gordon Cross confirmed talks will be held with Great Lakes regarding the club returning to first grade next season. The third round of Manning Cricket’s 2016/17 season continues tomorrow.