The Greens made the shock move last week when they announced their intention to enter the Murray League.

It leaves 10 clubs in Group Nine, negating the need for a bye each week, but ground availability in Wagga will see some clubs host others twice this season.

Group Nine president Jack Morton confirmed the 18-round season would remain which each club to play each other twice.

“We can’t do home and away as there are no games in Wagga for the first two weeks,” Morton said. 

“Clubs have to play away so home and away just doesn’t work.”

Morton is supportive of Tumbarumba’s decision.

“They have to do what is best for their town and as far as the Group goes we are 100 per cent behind them,” he said.

“It is a big decision for them but they have to do what is best for rugby league up there. I think they have, as they have been proactive and realise they are up against it.”

Morton also left the door open for the Greens to return to Group Nine in the future.

“We will not shut the door to them,” he said.

Cootamundra Bulldogs’ president Mark Kennedy said it was never good to see clubs leave competitions.

“We don’t want clubs to fold, it’s hard to get back and we saw it with Harden-Murrumburrah when they left Group Nine,” Kennedy said.

He said having no byes in the competition would improve the standard of games with players likely needing to be fitter if they’re playing 80 minutes every weekend.

“They’ll play the top sides twice and we’ll know where we are at round eight,” he said.

Kennedy said if Tumbarumba’s departure was confirmed it would mean the Bulldogs would need to look at their schedule for social functions and see how games will work around them during the year.

Tumbarumba have a cooling off period on their decision until January 29.

A new draw for Group Nine is expected to be officially released when the cooling off period ends.

However the key dates for the season will not change.

The season is still scheduled to start on April 7 and it will culminate with the grand final to be held at Equex Centre in Wagga on September 8.