State of Origin will continue to be a midweek affair but NRL clubs will be given some relief with byes to come in the week preceding the interstate clashes next season.

A meeting of NRL chief executives in Sydney on Tuesday endorsed the current scheduling arrangement with the 2009 season to again feature 24 rounds to be played over 26 weeks with each team receiving two byes.

For sides likely to be heavily affected by NSW and Queensland call-ups, those byes will occur in the weekend before Origin games.

The NRL are keen to avoid a repeat of the farcical situation Melbourne are faced with this weekend, with their side to take on a virtual full-strength Parramatta minus nine Origin representatives and NSW coach Craig Bellamy.

The current interchange system of ten changes from a bench of four players will also continue with a review to be conducted at this year's annual conference ahead of any possible changes for the 2010 season.

The NRL also announced the formation of two sub-committees with an eye on the game's future direction.

One group will examine the changing demographics in existing strongholds as well as exploring opportunities to reach out into new markets.

"There are some clear lessons from the Gold Coast about the value of taking a fresh look at the game's support in key regions," NRL chief executive David Gallop said.

"People talk of the pressures in Sydney and of the opportunities elsewhere and it is important that we continue to monitor our position."

A second committee will take on the difficult task of looking at the game's organisational structure, which will include a review of the role played by the NRL, the ARL and major stakeholder News Limited.

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