As North Tamworth search for a competition to play in, their longstanding president has queried the rationale that promoted clubs to abandon this season.
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Jodie Cooper believes that clubs may have wilted under the pressure of having to meet COVID-19 protocols, when, in fact, the process is merely "common sense".
He said the Bears had met all their COVID requirements, and were now relying on the NSW Rugby League to deliver them footy action this season.
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However, he conceded that the likelihood of that happening had become less likely after this week's decision by Group 21 to follow a host of NSW rugby league bodies - including Group 4 - and abandon its season before a game was contested due to the pandemic.
Perhaps the best chance the reigning six-time premiers and current Clayton Cup holders have of playing this year would be if the NSWRL organised what Cooper referred to as a Challenge Cup-type tournament involving NSW clubs who still want to play in 2020.
"Things don't look good at this stage, but who knows?..." Cooper said, adding that clubs may have bailed on the season too soon.
There's rumours going around that some of the players want to play, but the clubs pulled the pin.
- Jodie Cooper
He said: "There's rumours going around that some of the players want to play, but the clubs pulled the pin."
Cooper believes it would have been better for clubs to gets their heads around the COVID requirements now, because if a vaccine for the virus was not found, requirements would still need to be met in order to play next season.
"I can see this being ongoing," he said, adding: "I don't know. I think something could have been done [to get a comp running this year]."
Last Friday Group 4 chairman Ray McCoy announced the season had been cancelled, citing as the reason for that coronavirus-related health concerns and the financial burden the crisis had placed on clubs.
McCoy said Norths, Gunnedah and Moree were prepared to play this season.
Cooper said the NSWRL was keen to provide a competition outlet for clubs who desired that. He even suggested advertising in order to attract clubs who wanted to play, although he conceded the idea "sounds crazy".
"There's gonna be people in this area who just want a game of footy," he said, adding that Norths' players had kept themselves fit.
Cooper said he was taking a "glass half full" approach to the possibility of Norths playing this year.
Gunnedah No 6 Reece Jaeger told the Leader this week that the Bulldogs' players had wanted to see action this year.
