Returning secretary Paul Loxley heaped praise on Walsh, who is also part of the new-look New South Wales Rugby League's board alongside the likes of chairman George Peponis and Nick Politis.

Walsh had previously been a part of Group 11 for the best part of three decades and had been secretary from 2007-2014 before stepping away from that role when he took on the job of Country Rugby League (CRL) deputy chairman.

But with the CRL being amalgamated into the NSWRL recently, Walsh is free to return to roles within competitions.

Walsh chaired Sunday's annual general meeting in the absence of outgoing chairman Derek Hoe, before he accepted the top job.

"What it will provide is a definite direction," Loxley said, hailing Walsh's knowledge.

"Particularly in this day and age where the CRL no longer exists.

"It will be great to have our chairman on the NSWRL board. You can't get any better than that and he's all about football.

"I think everyone in the room today would have been happy to see him elected to the board and he was happy to chairman of Group 11."

Nine people nominated for Group 11's eight-person board and after the votes Wellington Cowboys president Darren Ah See was the one to miss out.

Craig Renneberg (treasurer), Sue Egan (registrar), Martin Cook, Jenny Hocking, John Sevil, and Nicholas Wilson make-up the rest of the board.

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