RUGBY league on the South Coast could return to the field sooner than expected after it was revealed regular discussions are taking place to get all 2020 NSWRL seasons up and running.
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On Thursday, NSWRL chief executive David Trodden confirmed the NSW Blues will get an opportunity to defend the State of Origin Shield in 2020, while all other competitions, such as Group Seven, are also expected to go ahead.
Trodden reached out to everyone connected with the game across the state after the difficult decision was made to cancel nine NSWRL competitions, including the NSW Canterbury Cup NSW, Jersey Flegg and junior representative matches, due to the coronavirus pandemic that has had a devastating impact across the globe.
The NRL also suspended their competition but has now formed Project Apollo to look at all options for the game, which would include an Origin series - which is now aiming to resume the 2020 season on May 28.
"No matter what else happens during the course of the year, there will be Origin - we will get a chance to retain that trophy we have fought so hard to win over the past two seasons," Trodden said.
"Freddy and his team have been meeting (via video) on a weekly basis to continue their plans for the 2020 State of Origin series and it's something that all of us in NSWRL are looking forward to."
The NSWRL is still hopeful of rescheduling the NSW Women's Premiership, Ron Massey Cup and Sydney Shield, and is also optimistic that community football, which involves grassroots players from under sixes to opens, could also resume in some capacity.
"We've had some really positive news over the last week or so with the number of additional coronavirus cases registered in NSW decreasing on a daily basis," Trodden said.
"That gives us some real confidence that we'll be able to get competitions going again, in some form, during the course of this season.
"I meet more than once a week with all of the state sporting organisations in NSW and all of the winter sports are certainly looking to agree on a single date to recommence all sport in NSW.
"They all share the optimism that we have about getting sport happening in NSW in the very near future."
