With a much-touted, potential shift to Group 11 in 2020 knocked on the head, Mudgee president Sebastian Flack said the Dragons have moved on and have their sights firmly set on returning to Group 10's zenith next year.
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Flack labelled the sought-after move 'an opportunity to get more interest' and while the club made contact with the Group 11 board no application was submitted at the annual general meeting.
Even so, Group 11 secretary Paul Loxley said his board would still 'look at' a retroactive application but wouldn't bow down to the list of demands the Dragons had supplied in their initial correspondence.
Reportedly the Dragons also submitted a list of demands of Group 10 and while it remains unconfirmed if any were considered by the executive, the club's application to remain in the region was accepted.
"We were disappointed not to be allowed in as we saw it as an opportunity to get more interest for rugby league in the town and for new towns to come to Mudgee," Flack told the Mudgee Guardian, adding his club will reconsider the shift in future years.
"There were many pros, but we accept and understand it would have been a difficult change while the transition of [Country Rugby League] to [NSW Rugby League] is taking place.
"It is important to move on from the events because there is nothing we can do that can change anything. We needed to move on and we have.
"We are ready to concentrate on ourselves and improving in all grades in the Group 10 competition."
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In the top grade, improving would mean hoisting the 2020 premiership after the Dragons suffered a heart-breaking, 9-8 defeat in extra time at the hands of now two-time defending premiers Bathurst Panthers.
Mudgee will be going to do so amid their centenary celebrations too and with that in mind, Flack thanked all involved with the club for sticking by through a tumultuous beginning to the off-season.
"It's a big year with 100 years of football in Mudgee," he said.
"The support we received in 2019 was amazing and I'm sure the supporters are like the players and committee, eager to see the improvement from what was a great year for the club.
"We appreciate the patience from our players, supporters and sponsors through this time and we hope to see you all out at Glen Willow next season cheering us on."
The committee and coaching groups remain largely the same following the club's annual general meeting back in October, with former NRL star Jack Littlejohn remaining at the helm of the premier league group.
Bridget Condon will be the vice president alongside Jared Robinson, Adam Sutherland will coach the under 18s, and senior league tag will be coached by Haley Joseph, taking on both roles, while the club is still searching for a new treasurer.
