It will go down as a landmark moment in Central North's history but the clubs say the cloud of uncertainty around the resumption of the season, and the risks, really left them with no choice.
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After more than two months waiting and hoping, the nine clubs unanimously decided to abandon the 2020 competition without a game being played.
The first time there won't be a champion crowned since at least 1957 (when the zone's records date back to), it was a decision the clubs reached with reservations but in what they felt were the best interests of the rugby, and wider, community.
They cited a number of reasons for their decision, chief among them the welfare of the 'rugby family'.
"I think the interest of the community far outweighs the interest of a few of us that want to run around and play rugby," Moree president Paul King said.
Gunnedah president Bruce Hockings echoed those sentiments.
"At the end of the day we love our football, love our sport, but it's more important that our players and families, and members are safe," he said.
"We're all gutted that there's no football but life's more important than kicking a leather ball around."
He said as board members they have a duty of care to their players, and spectators.
"If we can't guarantee that nobody can come to our ground and not get crook I don't know if you want to take that risk," he said.
King also spoke about the potential crippling impact a case could have on the local community.
"If we did play games, even without crowds, and say a week later someone get's diagnosed with COVID-19, anyone who was there has got to self-isolate for 14 days and in small rural communities that could have a massive impact on a number of businesses and a number of people," he said.
While restrictions are easing, the uncertainty around the permittance of spectators and the social and financial implications of potentially having no crowds also played a big part in the decision.
"We're talking about people who play for the love of the game more than anything else.. and it's just such a big part of the community and it's a real meeting area for everyone," King said.
Quirindi president Richard Brabrook said in his discussions with the players they wanted to play but "didn't want to play to an empty grandstand."
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And they wanted to be able to catch-up and have a drink with their family and friends after the game.
Afterall that is really what bush rugby is about.
"You play for 80 minutes and you play it hard and you play it fair, but then after the game you go and talk to Narrabri or Walcha, or whoever you are playing, and you have a few beers and a yarn," he said.
"The social interaction is the main reason you play rugby."
Especially in "a little town" like Quirindi.
"A lot of the time that's probably the only social life that we would have, at the rugby club every second Saturday," he said.
As well as the socialisation aspect, having no crowds would have a big impact financially.
Brabrook said their fixed costs for a home game would be somewhere between $800 and $1000.
"So we need to make $800 just to pay our way and we can't afford to do that by not generating sales from our gates and our bar," he said.
Another factor was the uncertainty around the when they can resume contact training, and a kick-off date. For a viable competition they would have to be able to play at least nine rounds, not counting finals.
"I guess our hands are tied a bit. We're only acting on the ARU's advice and if they're saying we can't start until the end of July or the start of August the season's gone," Hockings said.
The was some talk about pushing the season back but running into October did pose some issues for some of the clubs, especially those with large player bases on the land.
"You're looking at people starting to plant cotton and sorghum around late September early October. and then sort of mid-October through to November you're - hopefully - kicking off into harvest," King said.
Hockings said everybody was "hoping that there would be some footy" but that "somewhere along the line you've got to make a call because you can't keep going yeah we might (play)".
Whatever happens, by making the decision now the players at least have some clarity.
That was the biggest thing for them, Brabrook said.
"At least the players know what's going on. There's certainty there," he said.
