A SURPRISE address from NSWRL chief executive Dave Trodden highlighted Sunday's Group 4 general committee meeting.
The NSWRL CEO since 2013 was in Tamworth for Saturday's Country Championship matches at Farrer Memorial Agricultural High School's John Simpson Oval.
The NSWRL held a closed meeting with Group 4, 19 and 21 officials to explain changes of operation and administration.
He said having three different bodies - the about to be wound up Country Rugby League, NSWRL and NRL - was "dysfunctional".
"We are merging so everyone can be under the one umbrella," Dave Trodden told the Group 4 general committee Sunday morning.
"We won't have more people on the ground but we will be more efficient."
It won't have a great affect on country clubs, he said.
What it will do is change the administration as such so that Group 4, 19 and 21, which have been operating as Greater Northern Region over the past few years, will revert to its former name - Northern Division.
Northern Division will join with Northern Rivers and North Coast to form a new super zone with the current Greater Northern Regional manager Scott Bone (based in Tamworth) reporting to his new "boss" on the Northern Rivers.
The aim of the NSWRL is to create zones based on player numbers and not geography.
That size is 15,000 players.
"We want to provide better support for the Groups," he said.
"They are under challenge with volunteers.
"If there are things we can do for the Groups all they need to do is ask us and we'll do it if we can."
He said Groups such as Group 4 can send submissions to the NSWRL for projects they might have. He also said there are plans for NSWRL to help fund clubs travelling more than 150km to games.
He said clubs need only advise the NSWRL of their travel intineraries and the NSWRL will look at subsidising those bussing costs.
The insights were a welcome addition to the Group 4 meeting which was chaired by Board member Craig Power in the absence of chairman Terry Psarakis.
"Definitely wasn't planned but a much-welcommed opportunity which came about via a quick coffee catch-up with David before our meeting," Craig Power said.
"Having Dave Trodden here was a great success for us," Craig Power said.
"We appreciate his time and input."
The Group 4 general committee discussed the lack of referees which could see the Group having to play two first grade games on Saturday and two on Sunday.
