On Wednesday afternoon, NSWRL announced play in all its community competitions within the Greater Sydney will be suspended until at least July 24 - with the public health order scheduled to finish eight days earlier, allowing teams to train for one week before taking the field.

"The NSWRL has taken decisions around its major competitions and community football to suspend them for another week in line with the latest advice from the state government and back the state to get on top of the COVID-19 outbreak," NSWRL head of football Robert Lowrie said.

"It is important for all our participants, officials and spectators to continue to observe the guidelines that have been put in place to remain safe and help get rugby league back on the field as soon as possible.

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"Furthermore, I would like to emphasise for our regional areas and competitions, not in lockdown, our competitions will continue playing, but we need to maintain our vigilance in encouraging COVID-19 safety."

Australian Community Media understands the Group Seven board is in regular discussions as to what the remainder of the 2021 season will look like, including the availability of grounds and officials, the impact the 2021 Koori Knockout (scheduled for the long weekend in October) might have on a postponed finals series and how to ensure a safe return for all the competition's players, coaches, staff and fans.

During this time, NSWRL advised only Group Seven junior and senior clubs outside the Greater Sydney area would be allowed to continue to train, although now matches are to go ahead - with training for teams in the Shellharbour area suspended until at least July 16.

NSWRL's announcement also impacts the next few rounds of the NSW Cup and Jersey Flegg competitions, which feature numerous Group Seven talents.

Rounds 16 (July 3-4), 17 (July 10-11) and 18 (July 17-18) of these two competitions, among other major NSW competitions, will be deemed a COVID draw and receive one competition point each.

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Unfortunately, the state government's lockdown extension has forced the NSWRL to cancel the women's premiership semi-finals, with the top-two finishers Central Coast and Mounties progressing to the grand final.

This means the Helensburgh Tigers Lillies, headlined by seven Group Seven products, and Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks, featuring Albion Park-Oak Flats' Kaarla Cowan and Milton-Ulladulla's Lily Murdoch, have disappointingly had their season's ended.

"This decision was made in consultation with the NRL to ensure the workload for women players was managed appropriately before the NRLW starts in late August," said a NSWRL spokesperson.

"Players involved in the NSW women's premiership grand final will be permitted to train with their clubs on Thursday and Friday and will train with their NRLW clubs from Monday to Wednesday."