THEY will not get to play for their most coveted trophy outside the Group 10 premiership this year, but Bathurst Panthers and St Pat's are still planning for a unique derby.
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This weekend was to mark the seventh edition of the now annual ANZAC Day Rugby League Memorial Trophy contested between the Bathurst rivals.
The suspension of the competition due to the coronavirus pandemic means that will not go ahead.
However, with New South Wales Rugby League announcing earlier in the week plans to resume community competitions such as Group 10 on July 18, it means Saints and Panthers will clash this year.
When they do, it is planned to be the start of a new element to the rivalry between the two clubs.
Former Bathurst Panthers president Dennis Comerford revealed the clubs had been planning for an Indigenous round before the suspension of the season.
Though the exact details of what season 2020 will look like have not yet been finalised, it is something which still has the potential to go ahead.
"We have had discussions about implementing an Indigenous round. It was going to involve players from either club getting behind it and organising it. That was something which was going to be played later in the year as another local derby," Comerford said.
"The plan was to have early in the year the ANZAC round then later on the Indigenous round.
"The way we'd do it is whatever club hosted the ANZAC round, the other club would host the Indigenous round, that way each club gets to host a major event in a year."
It had been the Saints' turn to host this year's ANZAC feature, the blue and whites hoping a home ground advantage would see them snap Panthers' winning streak in the fixture.
When Panthers won the 2019 edition 22-20, it marked their fourth consecutive victory.
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Comerford, who was one of the driving forces behind establishing the ANZAC Day Rugby League Memorial Trophy match, is disappointed it will not go ahead.
"Since it's inception I know it probably means a bit to me, but it's really taken off in momentum and both clubs recognise the value of it," he said.
"It's not just about local bragging rights, but they're playing for a trophy and that sort of thing means a lot to players. It's probably the biggest local game of the year and I would say it's probably the biggest game in Group 10 over the course of the year outside of finals because it's just got that aura about it being the ANZAC clash.
"Now we've turned it into something that happens every year it is a big deal, so it is a shame we can't play it this year."
Still, Comerford feels the Indigenous round - should it go ahead as planned - can be just as special.
"We think the Indigenous round is something that can turn into another annual game between the two clubs, we can turn it into something bigger and better for football," he said.
"I know two of the players that were involved in the organisation of it - one works at Kelso High, one works at Bathurst High - they were going to get some of the Indigenous kids to design the Indigenous jumpers for Pat's and Panthers."
