Currently third on the ladder, the Goannas will be denied the chance to secure maximum points from the games and have to settle for two competition points in a fast-tightening battle for finals spots.

Wyong, The Entrance and Lakes United are all out of action as a result of the Covid lockdown on the Central Coast.

However, Cessnock is equally affected as the only other club to have two of its games treated as draws with one competition point awarded for each game.

The Goannas will not be in action again until Saturday, July 17 when they host second-placed Central Newcastle - a four-week break since they played last.

In contrast Western Suburbs and Kurri Kurri will both have two games for full points. The in-form Rosellas collected full points when they smashed Kurri Kurri 40-6 on Saturday and face Central this week.

Maitland, Macquarie Scorpions, Central Newcastle and South Newcastle will all have one game and one Covid-draw.

Cessnock coach Todd Edwards said the Covid draws were an unfair solution to the problem of the lockdowns as it created an unequal environment where some teams were competing for full points and others were locked into receiving one point for a draw.

"We should have just had a break so that everyone was treated equally. We have to accept the decision but we are not happy about it," Edwards said.

A potential flash point between the Goannas and the Newcastle RL over the one-week suspension of halfback AJ Davis from an incident in the June 19 game against Maitland has been resolved.

The NSW RL has ruled that last week's Covid draw will be counted as a game and and as such Davis' suspensions will be counted as served.

READ MORE:

Maitland Pickers survive huge scare to beat South Newcastle 24-16

Thompson stars in Maitland Magpies 4-2 win against Azzurri

Maitland Magpies win Women's State Cup

Even the Covid breaks are falling the Maitland Pickers' way