Newcastle Rugby League: Tyrone Amey 'gutted' at lost opportunity for Goannas in 2020 with premiership cancelled

Amey, while understanding of the decision given the impacts of the global coronavirus pandemic, was one of many players left disappointed when Newcastle RL announced on Friday that a first grade premiership would not be contested this season.

Cessnock were hoping to go one better this campaign having lost September's grand final and coach Todd Edwards had recruited Amey as well as fellow former NRL hooker Tyler Randell and potentially Joel Edwards.

"I'm gutted," Amey told the Newcastle Herald.

"Toddy Edwards had done a really good job of getting a good team together this year and I thought we had a good chance of going all the way. I understand their [Newcastle RL] decision though."

Amey, who made his NRL debut at the end of 2017 and has more recently been with Queensland Cup side Easts Tigers, will need to weigh up what move to make next with talk of an alternate Newcastle RL open grade not confirmed.

"I'm not sure what I will do, whether I just keep training for next year or try and find another club," Amey said.

"I'm not even sure if the open grade competition is going ahead. I'll just have to see how it plays out."

Rebels representative captain Alex Langbridge, who shifted from champions Wests to Maitland this year, shared similar sentiments.

"It's pretty disappointing with the squad we have and the way we were training," Langbridge said. "It feels like a lost opportunity."

However, Brendon Simpson, part of successful campaigns with South Newcastle in 2016 and 2018, feels "it's the correct decision".

"I think trying to play a competition this year could have put most clubs into a financial hole they wouldn't have come out of," Simpson said.

"Cancelling the competition will allow clubs to focus on preparing for next year, financially in particular."

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