In a wide-ranging interview, Trodden said it was his goal to ensure historic rugby league clubs right across regional NSW not only survive but thrive as NSWRL looks to navigate the game through one of its toughest periods in history.

Three Group 10 clubs have fallen out of premier league in the last two years, with Blayney and Cowra joining Oberon on the sidelines in 2021.

Looking broader, two Group 9 clubs - Junee and Cootamundra - have also dropped out of the powerhouse Riverina competition, while on the south coast the century-old Berry-Shoalhaven Heads Magpies have abandoned plans to field a first grade side too.

As clubs battle to emerge from a 2020 season that, for many, resulted in no rugby league being played due to COVID-19, Trodden said, across the board, it was important "competitive balance" was achieved in all competitions so clubs can prosper.

And to do that, change is inevitable.

He said points caps to help clubs curb excessive spending were coming, NSWRL would help mitigate the costs associated with travel and, in Western, a straight Group 10 and Group 11 merger isn't on the table.

"We think we have significant support from people in regional NSW to do things a different way," he said.

"I had a brief discussion with (Group 10 chairman) Linore Zamparini about a possible way of supporting both Cowra and Blayney but it's yet to be explored.

"To be fair, both the Cowra and Blayney cases (have only happened) relatively recently."