Rugby league went into hiatus for two years until a spring competition was staged this year.
The sport lacked structure and the organisational skills to run a sustainable competition but with former rugby union man Steve Martin taking charge, the sport is beginning to make a comeback.
"I think it's three years since we've had a meaningful winter competition and it comes on the back of a successful spring tournament which was held this year," Martin explained.
Following that tournament, the Otago Rugby League committee conducted a survey and found many of the players had been "parked up" doing nothing or playing rugby union.
But rugby league had remained close to their hearts.
That gave the committee the confidence to re-establish a winter competition.
"What came out of the survey was that there was sufficient interest for a winter competition in 2011. The option was to go with that or hang fire and run another spring competition.
"The committee is determined, provided there is a minimum of four teams, that a winter competition will be run."
Whether the winter league gets up and running is contingent on the teams advising the committee "that they are organised and have everything in place before the season starts", Martin said.
A hard deadline has not been set but Martin said the committee would need to know "at least a month out from the start of the competition".
The proposed tournament would have between four and six teams competing in the traditional months of April through to July.
And with the resurgence of league in Invercargill, Martin suggested a combined round of games might be an option as well.
His new year's wish is to "have a sustainable competition under way in 2011 that promotes players and provides a representative pathway".
"With the winter league we're catering for the real leagueys who want to play rep football and play at the highest level they can.
"But also we want to provide an opportunity for those who want to have a crack at the game with that spring competition as well."
The committee also plans a major thrust to promote the game to school-age children next year.
