Providing a strong under-18 competition was at the forefront of the Group 4 board's planning for the new season after the 2020 season was cancelled due to the pandemic.

Read also:

However, just three of the eight first grade clubs - Gunnedah, Dungowan (Farrer) and Kootingal-Moonbi - have confirmed they will have sides.

North Tamworth, Boggabri and Moree advised that they won't be fielding junior sides while Narrabri are "iffy" and Werris Creek "50-50", said Group 4 chairman Terry Psarakis.

North Tamworth are the reigning under-18 premiers, having beaten Dungowan (Farrer) 22-14 in the 2019 grand final at Jack Woolaston Oval.

"It's disappointing a club like Norths won't have an under-18 side and have been one of the victims of the pandemic," Psarakis said.

"We, and Norths, hope they will have a side next season."

While the Bears don't have an under-18 side, they could help a club such as Werris Creek form a squad.

The Werris Creek Magpies have around a dozen under-18s training and the club's secretary, Lisa Dellar, has sent emails to a number of players who are without a side - inviting them to join the Magpies in 2021.

"So if there are any players wanting to play and [are] looking for a club, they can contact Werris Creek," Psarakis said.

"They will be looked after by Werris Creek, I can assure them of that."

North Tamworth was also struggling to field a league tag side until Millie Blanch (nee Woolaston) launched a concerted mobilising effort to guarantee a side.

The NSWRL is monitoring the situation in both Group 4 and Group 21, with the possibility of combining under-18 teams from both competitions to form some sort of competition.

Three Group 21 clubs have enough players to form an under-18 side. They are Singleton, Aberdeen and Scone.

Group 19 will not stage an under-18 competition in 2021 due to a lack of players.