EARLY season chatter from down south has the Bega Roosters and the Moruya Sharks installed as red-hot favourites for the Group 16 crown.
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Bega, last year’s premiers, have maintained a strong side and gained a few quality players.
A Roosters spokesman said at the recent Group 16 meeting the club would be strong in all grades.
The Moruya Sharks are full of quality players such as Dennis Green, Jake Clarke, the Brierley brothers, Shane Colebrook and Tim Weyman.
The addition of star player Luke Jay is a huge boost for the Sharks and the talented hooker will be a player to watch this season.
Moruya Sharks spokesman Ian Traynor said at the Group meeting that Moruya are stronger than last year in all grades.
Cooma has imported a couple of smart players from England and are talking up a big forward pack.
The Batemans Bay Tigers are slowly gaining momentum and first grade coach Matt Cross is putting the boys through some pretty torrid sessions with an emphasis on ball handling and fitness.
The Tigers will play the Group 16 Indigenous Dream Team at the first trial game at Mackay Park on February 28 as the Nowra Warriors have withdrawn.
Only registered players can play so all interested players must see the registrar at training on Friday.
The Tigers’ under 18s are shaping up as a few more boys have come on board and the team should be a competitive side. However, the club would like more players at training as the competition looms.
There will be training for representative under 18s players at 10.30am on Sunday Sunday at Bill Smyth Oval, Narooma.
For information phone coach Jason Kelly on 0421 106 847.
The clubs have been asked by Group 16 to submit Saturday home game dates to alleviate the pressure on referees’ availability.
The Tigers have nominated March 28 against Narooma, May 30 against Moruya and July 25 against Bega.
Rule changes will also come into play this season as corner posts will be treated the same as in the National Rugby League (NRL) and will no longer be taken into consideration as the sideline.
There will be less interchanges, 12 to 10, and a kicker can be substituted from the bench. However it will count as an interchange.
The biggest change is to the cannonball tackle.
If a player is held up by two tacklers, and the third man hits the knees or below it will result in an immediate sin bin.
The wrestling blight has also been given priority and the tacklers must immediately start to get off the tackled player.
The Tigers are seeking a couple of water runners and trainers for the season. There are a couple of courses available and the club will pay the fees for any interested people.
Council has begun making changes at Mackay Park with renovations to the kitchen – new stoves, fridges and amenities - and a disabled toilet upstairs.
There will be a media seminar held at Moruya at 5.30pm on March 19.
The course will be run by Country Rugby League (CRL) and will be hosted by former Rugby League Week editor Geoff Prenter.
The seminar will cover all aspects of social and mainstream media operations.