The Newcastle Hunter Rugby League (NHRL) has vowed to strictly enforce the two-player transfer rule between clubs to stop poaching by Newcastle Rugby League (NEWRL) teams looking to fill new open-age squads.

A rift has emerged between the two leagues over the NEWRL's plan to reintroduce an open-age competition in 2026, with the NHRL saying in a strongly worded statement "we are very disappointed in the actions taken by NEWRL in introducing another competition in third grade".

However, both leagues are in step on tough policing of the two-player transfer rule.

The NHRL is worried its A-grade competition, in particular, will be stripped of players and compromised. Its worst-case scenario is that player drain across the grades could force some clubs to fold.

In a hardline response the NHR

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