This follows a Zoom conference meeting between club delegates and board members held this week. Regional area manager Kevin Hill chaired the meeting.

Last month the clubs voted against playing any football this year citing concerns with COVID-19 restrictions regarding social distancing, the possible loss of major sponsors, uncertainty as to whether spectators would be allowed into matches and paying insurance/registration fees.

However, with other winter sports now looking to start playing as restrictions begin to ease, Group Three chairman Wayne Bridge said it was decided to revisit to original decision.

"All the clubs will get feedback from their players and then get back to us by June 26 and we'll decide what, if anything, we can achieve this year,'' Mr Bridge said.

"The clubs are still worried about the same things as they were before. One club said that some of their sponsors had asked for money back.''

However, he added the clubs were willing to discuss the possibility of playing some sort of competition. He said the mood of the meeting was positive.

"We haven't decided on a format, everything is on the table,'' he said.

Mr Bridge added that it wouldn't be compulsory for clubs to enter sides in all of the proposed grades or to play at all.

"We're open to any suggestion,'' he said.

"The possibility of playing reserve grade or under 18s as a nines competition; clubs combining under 18 teams to form Barbarian sides if they don't have the numbers.

"Forster-Tuncurry suggested that the women's league tag could be played separately, with all matches at the one venue.

"We're also waiting for the NSWRL to release its policy and it will also depend on when the government says we can go back to playing community sport. There's a few hurdles we have to get over first before any decisions can be made.''

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While it is anticipated licensed premises will reopen in late July Mr Bridge expects there'll be tough restrictions on the number of people allowed into the premises. Seven of the eight Group Three clubs have clubs or pubs as their major sponsors.

Mr Bridge said Taree City and Wauchope seemed to have the most concerns.

He added that Wauchope's still dealing with the shock death of club president Ged Roods in April.

"They said they haven't even really thought about football and that's understandable.''

If football goes ahead in some format Mr Bridge expects it would wind up in late September or early October, depending on the number of teams and the number of grades.

He expects there'll be another meeting via Zoom conferencing on or about June 26.

"We'll see what the clubs come up with then,'' Mr Bridge concluded.