THE FUTURE of seven Super League clubs was in doubt yesterday with rebel officials suggesting they may miss the start of the Australian Rugby League premiership this weekend.

Representatives of all eight Super League clubs confirmed they would be unable to field full-strength teams, following a breakdown in talks with the ARL.

As a result of the ARL's refusal to accept seven of the 15 points put forward by the rebels on Monday, players and coaches at the eight clubs threatened again to start their own competition.

The stand off, caused mainly over the insistence that Adelaide and Hunter, two clubs created by News Limited for its Super League, be included in an expanded 22-team ARL, leaves the year-long row no closer to resolution.

But the ARL is adamant its 20-team premiership will start as planned, leaving Super League-aligned clubs just days to come up with replacement teams and coaches.

Canberra chief executive Kevin Neil, acting as the rebels' spokesman, said the dispute would be raised at today's meeting in Sydney of all 20 clubs.

Cronulla chief executive Shane Richardson and his Auckland counterpart Ian Robson claimed their clubs were in identical positions, with leading players opting to sit out on full pay rather than play for the ARL.

But Warriors board member Peter McLeod insisted Auckland would make every attempt to field its best possible team in Sunday's match against Brisbane. The ARL would not speculate on whether matches would be forfeited this weekend.