The Mackay Cutters could be booted from next year's Queensland Rugby League competitions after the club's refusal to travel to Papua New Guinea for this weekend's Hostplus Cup final round.
The Cutters, who are not in finals contention of the state's NRL feeder competition, were on Thursday issued a notice of intention to terminate their participation agreement by Queensland Rugby League.
Civil unrest in the country and its capital Port Moresby during an election period has meant recent efforts for the PNG Hunters to play at home for the first time since 2019 had been scuppered.
But an independent risk assessment from the QRL deemed this weekend's game was safe to go ahead despite the federal government maintaining potential visitors reconsider their need to travel due to the ongoing conflict.
"If the Cutters are unable to remedy the breach of the participation agreement, they will be suspended from all QRL statewide competitions," a QRL statement read.
"The Cutters have been requested to respond to the allegation and will be required to show cause as to why the club should continue their involvement in QRL statewide competitions in 2023."