There will be five grades of men's league including A to C Grades and a Northern and Southern Conference, three Ladies League Tag grades and two grades of women's tackle.

Maitland Pickers and Woodberry are part of the six-team A Grade competition and kick off the season in a local derby at the Maitland Sportsground on Saturday at noon in a big day of football also including first grade, reserve grade, under-19s and Ladies League Tag.

In other news

Kurri Kurri Bulldogs are the sole Coalfields team in the nine-team B-grade competition and Abermain and Raymond Terrace are part of the nine-team C-grade.

Local derbies are a feature of the Northern and Southern Conferences, although Kearsley has dropped out of footy this season and Stroud and Clarence Town have formed a combined men's team for 2022 while still running separate Ladies League Tag teams.

Northern conference features Dungog, Raymond Terrace, Morpeth, Paterson, Hinton and Stroud/Clarence Town from the local catchment.

Morpeth hosts Paterson in a local derby on Saturday from 3pm.

The Southern Conference features Maitland United, East Maitland and West Maitland.

The first local derby doesn't occur until round three when West Maitland hosts Maitland United, in round four East Maitland hosts United and in round seven on May 28 Wests hosts Easts.

The all-powerful Aberglasslyn Ants A-grade Ladies League Team and the Ants men's team have both broken up and effectively amalgamated with the Maitland Pickers, so there will be new premiership team for the first time in six years.

The six-team A Grade LLT comp features Maitland and Cessnock from the local area and Newcastle RL rival Central Newcastle as well the powerful University team.

The Pickers kick off the season against Fingal Bay at the Maitland Sportsground on Saturday from 9.50am

Aberglasslyn has a team in B Grade LLT along with West Maitland, Clarence Town, Dungog and Raymond Terrace.

Maitland United and Abermain are flying the flag for the Coalfields in women's tackle with both teams in the seven-team B Grade competition.

A-Grade

Maitland, Woodberry, Dudley, Ourimbah, Dorah Creek and South Newcastle.

B-Grade

University, Northern Lakes, Shortland, Windale, Cardiff, Swansea, Kurri Kurri, Kotara and Glendale.

C-Grade

Dora Creek, Fingal Bay, West Wallsend, Awabakal, Wallsend Maryland, Lakes United, Abermain, Raymond Terrace and Morisset

Northern Conference

Karuah, Dungog, Raymond Terrace, Gloucester, Tea Gardens, Morpeth, Paterson, Hinton and a combined Stroud/Clarence Town team.

Southern Conference

Budgewoi, Maitland United, Waratah, East Maitland, Hamilton and West Maitland.

A Grade Women's Tackle

Wyong, Central Newcastle, Karuah, Macquarie, Berkley Vale and Western Suburbs.

B Grade Women's Tackle

Dora Creek, Toukley, Budgewoi, Maitland United, Abermain, Lakes United and Waratah

A Grade Ladies League Tag

Cessnock, Kotara, University, Central Newcastle, Maitland and Fingal Bay.

B Grade Ladies League Tag

Stroud, Raymond Terrace, Aberglasslyn, University, Clarence Town, West Maitland, Hamilton, Swansea, Shortland and Dungog.

C Grade Ladies League Tag

Dudley, Tea Gardens, Shortland, Raymond Terrace, Cardiff, Morpeth, West Wallsend, Awabakal