THE future of this year's Group 20 rugby league competition will be on the table on Monday.
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Group 20 has told clubs the decision on whether or not they play this year will be up to them.
How a possible competition could take shape will be dependent on what decision clubs make at this meeting.
There's certainly a lot to consider.
Not only is the safety of players, coaches, volunteers, referees and the community something that needs addressing, but there's also the financial implications, ongoing social distancing restrictions and sponsor venues that remain closed or operating under limited capacity.
"We had a meeting two weeks ago and gave the clubs all the information they needed and what could happen in the future, so they could go back to everyone involved on their end and have a discussion about where they are sitting," Group 20 operations manager Rocci DiSalvatore said.
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"We (Group 20) won't be making the decision. It's really up to the clubs on how they want to move forward. There is a lot of areas they need to address and a lot of concerns too."
One of the biggest issues is the possibility of a player contracting COVID-19 or unknowingly carrying the virus and passing that on to other players, which could potentially cause an outbreak at workplaces throughout the region.
While that is one of many "what ifs", DiSalvatore said it was important for clubs to discuss these issues before deciding on whether or not they would like to see a competition happen.
"Everyone wants to get out and play footy, but it's not that easy at the moment," he said. "There's a lot to be contending with, which is why we wanted to let the clubs decide."
Should a competition go ahead, Group 20 would look at starting a fixture from July 18, running for nine weeks before a finals series.
Ground availability would also be something clubs need to discuss with their relevant councils as the season would likely run later into the year.
DiSalvatore reiterated the health and safety of everyone involved with football clubs remained a huge priority going forward.