Competition secretary Paul Loxley expects that excitement to only grow given all that has happened off the field throughout 2020, principally the cancellation of the season due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

"I think it's going to be the most anticipated season in a long, long time," said Loxley.

The fact that Group 11 will potentially be replaced by a new western-wide senior competition in 2022 heightens the anticipation that comes with a year off.

The highlight of the draw for the Spacemen will of course be the annual Parkes versus Forbes long weekend derby, which will have even more spice than normal, while round two will feature a 2019 grand final replay (Wellington vs Dubbo CYMS).

"Add the Souths-Panthers NRL game (at Dubbo) and it's just going to be an incredible year - every club will think they're a chance of winning the comp," Loxley said.

The Group 11 regular season will feature 14 rounds and starts on May 2, when Parkes will travel to Dubbo to take on CYMS before taking on Narromine in Round 2.

The last round will see the Spacemen take on 2019 premiers Wellington before finals begin the weekend of August 21 and 22.

There will be a general bye on May 23 when the South Sydney Rabbitohs and Penrith Panthers play an NRL premiership match at Apex Oval.

The Spacemen have been busy in recent months, with Tony Dwyer stepping up to take on the president's role while coaches have been locked in and a number of signings for the club's first grade side have also been confirmed.

The most eye-catching of the new signings is Bailey Hartwig, the Western Rams representative who has made the switch from southern rivals Forbes.

"Bailey approached us and he's a quality footballer who can play plenty of positions," Dwyer said.

"It was a bit of a funny one because we had Forbes on the phone saying we were poaching their players but he was talking to Jordan (Pope) during Western's (Presidents Cup) stuff saying he'd be keen to come across, so that's where it originated from.

"It spices up that long weekend match though," said Dwyer.

While Hartwig is a hugely versatile player, he's likely to find a home in the second-row at Parkes.

He'll be part of a new-look forward pack with Benny Cokanasiga, a Group 11 representative who most recently played for Nyngan, also joining the club while Dwyer said he was hopeful of securing a couple more forwards in the coming weeks.

Dennis Spathis, a Condobolin junior and Western Rams representative who previously won a Group 11 under 18s title with Forbes, has also linked with the Spacemen.

"We've been light on in big forwards and that's where we wanted to strengthen," he said.

"We identified a couple of areas we wanted to strengthen. We needed a centre or two and forwards.

"Our halves have been good and we've had no problem scoring but we'd get steamrolled a bit."

Depth in the forward pack is particularly key after the Spacies were found wanting in recent years when short of players due to injury.

"We were lacking a bit of punch off the bench when a couple were injured," Dwyer said.

"We're working on a couple more forwards and if they work out then it will be a bonus."

The Spacemen are set to meet with Jake Dooley, a marquee signing earlier this year, shortly in the hope of tying him down again for 2021 while there is uncertainty if Charles Tago, brother of current Parkes player Brandon and another signing for the COVID-ruined 2020 season, will return.

One signing from this year who will be back is dynamic Welsh hooker Connor Farrer, who had previously starred with Trundle in the Woodbridge Cup.

One of the most pleasing things for the club's new president is the strong core group of players who have been in the top grade together for a number of years now will all return.

The likes of Chad Porter, Jordan Pope, Jay Slavin, Sam Dwyer, and Tago will all be back again and be vital to the side's hopes of success.

"A lot of the locals are right. They're not going anywhere," Dwyer said.

"That core group of locals has stuck solid."

Parkes is expected to start pre-season in February.

Plenty of representative matches will also make the 2021 season one of the biggest in recent years. In a huge addition to the Group 11 calendar, next year will mark the return of the All Stars fixture.

A Group 11 Indigenous side will do battle with an All Stars side in opens and league tag in an event which is certain to attract fans from all over the region. That Group 11 Indigenous side will also meet their Group 10 counterparts in a season curtain-raiser on the weekend of April 10.

Group 11 and Group 10 will meet in a representative battle, with matches in the opens, under 18s, and league tag to be played on May 22.

NSW Rugby League have also announced its junior representative draws for the 2021 season, confirming the return of the Laurie Daley Cup and the Andrew Johns Cup. In further good news for the Western Regions' leading juniors, NSWRL also announced the return of the SG Ball Cup, Tarsha Gale Cup and Harold Matthews Cup.

Congratulations to the coaches who will coach the 2021 Parkes Marist Junior Rugby League sides.

Under 7's: Jason O'Brien

Under 8's: Vacant

Under 10's: Luke Clarke

Under 12's: Andy Thomas

Under 14's: John Crisp

Under 16's: Cody Crisp and Billy Simpson

Under 10's League Tag: Vacant

Under 13's League Tag: Deanne Hanson

Senior League Tag: Dave Simpson

Rounds 1 and 8 (May 2 and July 4)

Narromine v Dubbo Macquarie, Forbes v Wellington, Dubbo CYMS v Parkes. Bye: Nyngan.

Rounds 2 and 9 (May 9 and July 11)

Wellington v Dubbo CYMS, Parkes v Narromine, Forbes v Nyngan. Bye: Macquarie.

Rounds 3 and 10 (May 16 and July 18)

Dubbo CYMS v Forbes, Nyngan v Macquarie, Narromine v Wellington. Bye: Parkes.

Rounds 4 and 11 (May 30 and July 25)

Dubbo Macquarie v Forbes, Narromine v CYMS, Parkes v Nyngan. Bye: Wellington.

Rounds 5 and 12 (June 6 and August 1)

Narromine v Forbes, Nyngan v Wellington, Dubbo Macquarie v Parkes. Bye: Dubbo CYMS.

Rounds 6 and 13 (June 13 and August 8)

Parkes v Forbes, Wellington v Dubbo Macquarie, Dubbo CYMS v Nyngan. Bye: Narromine.

*Round 6 split over 2 weeks

Rounds 7 and 14 (June 27 and August 15)

Nyngan v Narromine, Dubbo Macquarie v Dubbo CYMS, Parkes v Wellington. Bye: Forbes.

Preliminary semi final: August 21/22

Semi finals: August 28/29

Finals: September 5

Grand Final: September 12