Twenty-twenty was not the golden centenary year the Roosters were hoping to have.

The committee and Nambucca community were left devastated after the senior club was denied reentry into Group 2 due to their inability to clear all debts from previous seasons.

Ultimately it mattered not. Group 2 was forced to can its 2020 season when the pandemic struck.

"It was a slight relief to us, I suppose, how 2020 panned out," Roosters Senior Rugby League Club President Kelvin Jarrett said.

But the salve was only skin-deep.

"One of the hardest things to do was to own some of the responsibility for what happened this season," he said.

And the committee was determined to pay its penance - working non-stop through the year to make the club solvent again.

"We had help from Group 2 along the way - they kept checking in with us to make sure we were on the right path," Kelvin said.

"I knew we had a couple of challenges leading up to the Group 2 AGM last week. The biggest was needing to instil confidence in NSW Rugby League that we can run a club - and run it for the whole season.

"So it was a very nervous wait leading up to last Tuesday night, because if you don't have all your ducks in a row by the AGM, then it's all over."

Understandably there were crows of joy when the announcement came through that all nine clubs in Group 2 had their nominations accepted to play in the 2021 season - including the Orara Valley Axemen and the Nambucca Roosters.

Still, he knows they can't count their chickens just yet. There's more work that needs to be done before pre-season games start.

Group 2 CEO Jim Anderson said each club is now a "master of its own destiny", and that there are several benchmarks that need to be met before the season begins in April.

All teams must have at least 35 registered senior players by game one, and field teams in two separate grades - one of those being First Grade.

"It's now the rule that no more than three players are to play in the Reserves and then run back on for the First Grade game," he said.

All clubs must also meet their financial obligations, like insurance premiums, on time. Each must have a detailed COVID-Safe plan. And it's mandatory for all teams to participate in the Group's pre-season games from early March.

And there's one further caveat to the successful launch of the first capacity season in years.

"At the AGM, representatives of each club agreed that if permitted crowd attendance numbers weren't lifted to at least 750, but hopefully more like 1000, then the season would not go ahead," Jim said.

"Clubs rely on gate numbers, and once you take into account the four-plus teams and coaches, volunteers etc, it's just not financially feasible with the current COVID limitations in place."

COVID-rules aside, Kelvin is quietly confident his club is making the right moves for a bright future.

"We've had a really good response from sponsors," he said.

"It's really heartwarming that all the hard work has paid off and the business community is interested again.

"And there'll be a focus next year on changing the culture of the club. It's about having respect for yourself, and the jersey you wear. And it's about giving back - it's not going to be a one-way street anymore.

"The focus is on 2021, but you don't work this hard just for 12 months. We're setting up this club now so we never have to go through this again. And we're restoring pride for our future.

"There's still a long way to go, but come game one, we'll be ready."

Congratulations, Bowraville Class of 2020

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