"It was definitely too soon."
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The fallout from Group 11's decision to cancel all senior rugby league for 2020 has occurred almost immediately.
While accepting the decision made on Tuesday night, Macquarie president Ross McDermott and CYMS captain-coach Jarryn Powyer both questioned the timing of it after the state government announced on Wednesday senior sport could return from July 1.
While no one involved in the competition or NSW Rugby League as a whole could have foreseen Wednesday morning's announcement coming, McDermott had entered Tuesday night's meeting hoping to push ahead with plans for this year.
And there may be no first grade, reserve grade, or league tag played in 2020 but the Macquarie boss is still pushing on to find a solution for his club and those players keen to take to the field.
"We probably could have held off for another week," he said.
"I can't get my thoughts around it and now [after government update] it was definitely too soon."
Powyer said he would be open to looking at any possible matches later in the year while adding he would have liked Group 11 to look back on Tuesday night's decision following Wednesday's news.
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He went as far to see it would be a lack of leadership if there was no consultation with clubs given senior sport has now been given the green light.
"We might have written it off too soon," he said.
"Obviously clubs decided on things with the information they had but that new information has come out.
"You'd think they might meet again."
Group 11 president Bob Walsh said the decision was locked in, with financial impacts on clubs and the ongoing uncertainty around crowds and expected health requirements on game day still to be confirmed.
The representatives from the two Dubbo clubs may have preferred to look at ways of still playing this year but they did understand the decision to abandon play.
The strain was particularly on the smaller clubs with Nyngan officially withdrawing from any competition last Friday.
Speaking immediately after Tuesday night's meeting, Group 11 president Bob Walsh said he completely accepted the decision and the difficulties clubs like Nyngan and Narromine were facing.
"You can understand it. Club's avenue of fundraising is gone," Walsh said at the time, and Powyer accepted that.
"I think with the uncertainty, it's easier just to know your fate," the Fishies' leader said.
"We were probably hanging around with no idea for too long."
Group 11 has been running since 1946 and 2020 will mark the first year without senior competition.
But McDermott doesn't want his sides to go without and he is expected to make a number of calls to clubs in Group 11 and Group 10 to see if there is any possibility of matches of some description to be played this year.
"I still am hoping," McDermott said.
"We made it clear Macquarie wanted to continue with four teams and I think CYMS was the same.
"I might do a ring-a-around ... I'm not holding my breath though.
"There doesn't seem to be much interest around so we're maybe out of sync with everyone else."
McDermott said the Raiders would be having a board meeting next week to look at possible options for this year.
As for Powyer, he joked he'll have to find a new hobby now after maintaining hope prior to Tuesday's meeting.
The captain-coach will look at any options for play on the table this season but added he wouldn't be surprised if a lot of players had even less motivation for the game now than they did at the height of the lockdown.
The one positive for McDermott, Powyer, and all those involved in Group 11 is the plan to keep under 18s playing.
Both stated they would look for the seniors sides to get involved with junior sides of all ages.