GROUP Three Rugby League will meet with club representatives next week in the next stage of formalising a women's rugby league competition in 2022.
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However, Group Three chief executive Mal Drury admits the process has been drawn out and 'frustrating.'
The matter was discussed at the North Coast Region annual meeting at Coffs Harbour, although nothing concrete was decided.
"Starting women's rugby league is something that's been talked about here since 2014,'' Mr Drury said.
"Kylie Hilder was pushing hard for it when she was the development officer for this area.
(Hilder, from Forster, is now coach of the NSW State of Origin women's team).
"But we're no closer to getting it going now than we were then.''
Group Three had hoped to play a women's tackle competition this year.
Under the plan the competition would start in August and culminate on grand final day with the other grades. Initially four clubs nominated, but there was one withdrawal while other logistical problems emerged.
The Group Three season eventually ended in mid-August when the State went into lockdown.
Mr Drury said he will organise two meetings next week, one with the southern clubs and the other with those from the north.
He believes any women's competition would need to be organised in conjunction with the Hastings League where women's rugby league has been played previously.
Mr Drury concedes there appears to be more interest in the Hasting/Macleay areas in women's league than there is in the south.
"Speaking to the clubs down here and they say they have three or four players interested, but that's all. We might be able to get a composite side from the southern clubs,'' he said.
Mr Drury said the code risked losing players to rugby union if there is no women's league competition in this area, while others are looking to play in the Newcastle area. Last week the Times reported that Lucy Green from Taree has been included in the Newcastle Knights Tarsha Gale (under 19) squad for next season.
It's expected that North Coast would play in next year's women's Country Championships as was the case last season.
The NSWRL announced earlier this year that female registrations had reached 20,000 for the first time.
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