Newcastle Rugby League have opted to cancel the last round of the season following this week's lockdown extension for the Hunter region.
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With the minor premiers and top five already decided, Newcastle RL are aiming to resume competition with the finals series when allowed by public health orders.
The scrapped fixtures will be called COVID draws.
Calls have yet to be made about whether the finals continue as per program or change in terms of format, duration and deadline.
However, teams will be given at least one week worth of training to prepare.
This means, with coronavirus restrictions in place until Thursday, the earliest possible return to play is August 28-29.
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The decider had recently been rescheduled for McDonald Jones Stadium on September 12 or 19.
Maitland (30), Cessnock (24), Central (22), Macquarie (21) and Wests (20) are set to feature in play-offs at this stage.
Central Coast clubs Wyong (16) and The Entrance (14) have been sidelined since the end of June.
The campaigns of Lakes (14), Kurri Kurri (10) and Souths (9) are now officially over with the Lions collecting the wooden spoon after appearing in last year's grand final.
Newcastle RL chief executive officer Charlie Haggett released a statement in relation to the unfolding situation.
"In accordance with the NSW government's extension of the lockdown/stay at home orders in the Newcastle LGA's we have decided, in conjunction with the NSWRL, that round 18 in the Denton Engineering Cup will no longer be played and the games within the round will become a COVID cancellation draw," he said.
"Each team will be given one competition point each with zero for and against as all teams are impacted in the same manner.
"Contingencies for the final series to be played are in the process of being developed and will ultimately be determined based on lifting of the lockdown, allowing for a week of training in preparation for a competition restart.
"Once we have further information we will communicate what that looks like accordingly."
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Josh Callinan
My name is Josh Callinan and I'm a sports journalist at the Newcastle Herald. I started with the newspaper in 2016 after a decade at the Maitland Mercury.
My name is Josh Callinan and I'm a sports journalist at the Newcastle Herald. I started with the newspaper in 2016 after a decade at the Maitland Mercury.
