NSWRL women's participation officer Kylie Hilder to look at possible women's rugby league competition to fill the void of cancelled league tag season

NSWRL women's participation officer Kylie Hilder of Forster will look at the possibility of starting a women's competition here, possibly in September, to fill the void left by the cancellation.

Only three of the eight Group Three clubs - Old Bar, Forster-Tuncurry and Macleay Valley were willing to play football this year because of concerns about COVID-19 restrictions. Other country groups have also decided not to go ahead with competitions this year. The Tamworth-based Group Four opted last week not to play.

Mrs Hilder believes this is a golden opportunity for women's rugby league to expand in the Group Three area.

"We usually run a nines competition in October/November. I'll speak to the group and see if we can get that going a bit earlier this year and maybe play 11-a-side or 13-a-side,'' she said.

Last year's nines competition saw games played at Tuncurry, Wingham, Wauchope and in the Macleay area, although the season was interrupted by the bushfire crisis that gripped the Mid North Coast in November/December.

The nines is also used as a selection trial for the North Coast team to play in the Country Championships played in March/April. North Coast made the Country final two seasons ago.

However, this year's championship was cancelled midway through the season because of the pandemic.

Mrs Hilder said she'll also look at the possibility of playing some league tag matches this year if she gets the approval from Group Three.

She's currently working with other groups in the State in a bid to coordinate the start of women's competitions this year. Mrs Hilder confirmed a domestic 13-a-side competition would be played in Newcastle in under 13s, 15s, 17s and open age divisions.

The Harvey Norman NSW Women's Premiership will resume next month.

Here Mrs Hilder is a co-coach of the Central Coast Roosters. It was also confirmed the NRLW will play a third season later this year, with Mrs Hilder having a coaching role with the Sydney Roosters.