Minor premiers the Macleay Valley Mustangs have earned the right to host the major semi-final on home soil this Sunday and if victorious, the right to host the Group Three Rugby League grand final.
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However, it was revealed yesterday, Group Three Rugby League's management will discuss options for this year's grand final venue at the conclusion of Sunday's major semi-finals at Kempsey.
The club winning the first grade major semi-final usually hosts the grand final. This has been Group Three policy since 2002.
The potential decision to move the grand final away from Kempsey has left Mustangs coach Russell Lardner flabbergasted.
"The first thing that has to happen is that we have to win against Wauchope this Sunday and that's what our focus is on, I don't want our players to be distracted by outside noises," Lardner told the Argus.
"But if we do win, I would go through all my powers to make sure that they can't say no to us hosting the grand final.
"I would be gutted, disappointed, devastated, upset - a whole range of emotions - and a lot of other people would be too if they took it away from us."
Group Three's concerns surround the facilities at Kempsey's Verge Street Oval along with the ground's capacity.
Kempsey hasn't hosted a rugby league grand final in more than 50 years and Lardner is hopeful his side's chance at history isn't stripped from them.
"The last grand final in Kempsey was in 1962 when Lloyd Hudson was the captain-coach," Lardner said.
"It has been a long time and it would be a huge and memorable event for the Macleay, we deserve the right to host it if we can win."
Lardner claims there would be no issues, if the club was to host the deciders, and urges the community to attend this Sunday to prove they can attract large attendance numbers.
"The venue is 100 per cent fine and we would have it ready to go," Lardner said.
"We need the Kempsey community to rally around us, come to the fields to support us and give us a large crowd to show Group Three what we are capable of."
The first grade contest will kick off at 3pm this Sunday. The Mustangs Under-18.5s will also be in action at Verge St Oval with their fixture against the Old Bar Pirates scheduled for 12.05pm.
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