Pickers coach Matt Lantry has said the Maitland club would consider playing in the Sydney-based Ron Massey Cup if a Newcastle Rugby League competition didn't go ahead later this year.
Lantry stressed any potential move down the M1 Pacific Motorway in 2020 was "plan B" for the Pickers, who remain committed to Newcastle RL, but described the prospect of a "one-off opportunity" as "appealing".
All of the state's senior competitions are still on hold until at least July 18, or have already been cancelled, because of the coronavirus crisis.
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"Our priority is with Newcastle Rugby League and ensuring we can get a competition on. That's our primary objective," Lantry told the Newcastle Herald.
"But if that doesn't happen, if that doesn't feature first grade or lower grades ... we have to consider what's in our best interest. We want to do everything we can to get our teams on the paddock."
Lantry said a possible "conference style" campaign, featuring the top sides from Newcastle, Central Coast, Sydney or Illawarra depending on what local competitions are able to proceed, could work after the easing of COVID-19 restrictions forecast by state and federal governments in recent days.
"As a one-off opportunity, I think it's appealing," he said.
"I don't think anything should be off the table yet in terms of getting a game at some stage."
The NSW Rugby League board are expected to review public health advice on June 1 with final calls on any competitions to follow.
NSWRL released an update on Monday saying Newcastle RL was "planning to play a 10-round senior competition as part of a proposed model for the planned resumption of rugby league activities in July".
Furthermore in the online announcement: "Harris said his organisation is working with the NSWRL to provide an opportunity for clubs and players to play rugby league in the region in some format this year".
However, according to the sport's state governing body, all competitions would be "subject to the existing government advice available at the time".
NSWRL boss David Trodden added: "The most important thing is that we will be guided by the health regulations and the health and safety of all players, team staff, match officials, club officials and the public will be a priority".
Lantry said he expected to talk with the Maitland squad this week and hoped any inevitable pay cuts would be overridden by "camaraderie" and a desire to "see what we can achieve in a competition".
Lantry, a former Knights mentor at NSW Cup level, is also the Rebels representative coach and steered Wests to a Newcastle RL premiership last season before joining the Pickers.
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