RUGBY LEAGUE: Oakey Bears missing out on the TRL in 2017 would be a double-whammy for the town currently in the midst of more attention than they would like.

Oakey is one of 11 teams in the TRL, including Warwick and Wattles.

"This is really important with everything going on because it (the water contamination) effects the community which in turn effects the players. It's a bad time but I don't think there has been a good one,” Bears president Shane Turl said.

"Rugby league has been in our town for a long time so to not have a senior club would be devastating for the community.”

A meeting held on Tuesday night aimed at bringing the community together to plan for the future of the Oakey Bears had the town turn up in numbers for the club, who have been a part of the TRL for more than 50 years and a lifeline of the town for much longer.

Last week, the Bears were issued with a notice by the TRL that they would be suspended from the competition in 2017 unless they could prove their financial viability with the club owing "substantial debts” to the league.

But after Tuesday's meeting, where perspective players, life-long members and juniors all hoping to see the club survive for the health of the community all attended, there seems to be some light at the end of the tunnel.

"The meeting went well and there was a lot of interest,” Turl said.

"The media coverage since the suspension has raised issues and eyebrows and we're hoping it does bring some players out and realise the dire straits we are in.

"We heard a few saying 'if you're struggling we'll come out next year', well this year is that year.”

This weekend, the TRL AGM is on.