Previously held at Portland in a bid to help the Colts’ club build and potentially re-enter the competition formerly known as the Centennial Coal Cup, New Era Mid West Cup organisers have decided to close the door on the Portland experiment and move the carnival on a rotational basis annually.

Beginning in Orange, New Era Mid West Cup president Paul Rudd said all clubs - Charles Sturt University, Lithgow Bears, Wallerawang Warriors, Blackheath Blackcats, Kandos Waratahs, Orange Barbarians, Villages United and new side Lithgow Giants - will contest this year’s carnival.

And there will be a twist.

This year’s Mid West Cup will have league tag as part of its premiership, with five of the eight clubs already indicating they’ll provide a side with the potential a sixth will come on board before the season proper commences on April 11.

“We’ll have a few exhibition games at the carnival too, which will be great,” Rudd said of the competition’s new venture.

“It just adds to the competition a bit more and hopefully steer us away from what’s being dubbed a second division competition or a pub comp.”

Rudd is also the president of the Orange Barbarians club, and with training starting strongly early in 2015, was confident this year would be a good one for the club - in both grades.

“We’ve had strong numbers at training and that’s for both the league and the girls,” he added.

With CSU beginning classes at the end of February, the students will field just the one team at the carnival Sunday week in Orange.

The eight-team competition will start from 9am at Waratah Sportsground.