Interest in the inaugural Newcastle and Hunter Rugby League (NHRL) competition has been strong with 30 teams already nominated to play in 2007.
Competition chairperson John Thomas confirmed 24 teams from Newcastle had already nominated, along with seven from the former Hunter Valley Rugby League (HVRL) competition.
The likes of HVRL grand finalists West Maitland and Woodberry have nominated along with Clarence Town, who sat out the 2006 HVRL competition with new interest coming from Stroud.
Thomas said interest from Newcastle Rugby League clubs Wyong and Maitland meant the competition might look at a four-tier structure, as opposed to the three it had earlier touted.
He said the priority was accommodating all teams and allowing them to play in a competitive grade and also the establishment of a workable set of by-laws to help govern the new competition.
"As big as it gets, clubs that have nominated don't want to be fed to the lions," Thomas said.
"Teams don't want to travel 100km to get 100 points put on them."
Thomas welcomed interest from Newcastle Rugby League clubs Wyong and Maitland but said there was still a criteria those clubs had to meet and their involvement would not be to the detriment of second division clubs.
The HVRL will wind up its operations with its final meeting on December 6.
(For more details see today's Maitland Mercury.)
