WITH the 2017 Group 7 rugby league season kicking-off this weekend across the South Coast, sports editor Courtney Ward has a look at how each 11 first grade teams are shaping up this year, by chatting to all of this season’s first grade coaches.
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Gerringong Lions
Finished in 2016: Premiers
Coach: Michael Cronin
Gains: None.
Losses: Joel Roberts, Patrick Cronin, Peter Cronin, Lloyd Bowen, Steve Evans, Brad Davidson, Taylor Hudson
Outlook for 2017: We don’t know how the new players will step up into first grade but if we can consistently get out best team on the paddock each week, we will be competitive.
Why we can win premiership: It would be bold to say that we can make it three in a row this year, with 10 of the grand final 17 not playing but we will take each week as it comes and do the best we can.
Warilla-Lake South Gorillas
Finished in 2016: Grand finalists
Coach: Aaron Henry
Gains: Nick King, Jayden King, Emanuel Sultana, Guy Rosewarn, Jake Rosewarn.
Losses: Josh Kent, Jesse Dee, Mark Walsh, Andrew Diomei.
Outlook for 2017: Continue to play physical and stay disciplined. If we can do that, hopefully it leads to a number of wins.
Why we can win premiership: The young blood and new guys at the club are very enthusiastic and everyone is feeding off that.
Shellharbour City Sharks
Finished in 2016: Finalists
Coach: Abed Atallah
Gains: Jesse Dee, Abraham Atallah, Michael McKinley, Aaron McLachlan, Callan Sinclair, Jake Goody.
Losses: Kurt Field, Harold Snell, Nick King, Emmanuel Sultana, Nathan Cooper, James Keelan, Cameron Fing.
Outlook for 2017: We expect to be competitive we will be a young team again with some good experienced players aiming to be playing in the big games at the end of the year.
Why we can win premiership: If we can have a decent run with injuries and staying healthy, I think that's a big key to how far you go.
Jamberoo Superoos
Finished in 2016: Finalists
Coach: Jono Dallas
Gains: Jake Clarke, Brendan Smith, Josh Kent.
Losses: Joseva Rokoqo, Matt Coelho, Luke Gilmore.
Outlook for 2017: A progression onto what we showed in 2016 – playing a similar style of footy while continuing to build.
Why we can win premiership: Anyone can win any game if they play with the right attitude on the day.
Kiama Knights
Finished in 2016: Finalists
Coach: Matt O’Brien
Gains: Oliver Powell, Toby Bristow. Blake Rickard, Ethan Ford.
Losses: Luke Muttdon, Luke Sutton, Matt Clarke, Jack Alexander, Vaughan Thistlethwaite, Dean Gentle, Mark Laird.
Outlook for 2017: Youth and some new faces in first grade particularly from our under 18s side should invigorate our side.
Why we can win premiership: Because of our youth and good depth in reserve grade.
Nowra-Bomaderry Jets
Finished in 2016: Didn’t play finals
Coach: Dwyane Connors
Gains: Jayde Tooth, Santino Battagliolo, Matthew Dykstra, Shane Dickinson.
Losses: Geoff Johnson, Ben Wellington.
Outlook for 2017: To play the game with pride, passion, honesty and the natural ability within our team will get us to where we want to be as the Nowra-Bomaderry Jets club.
Why we can win premiership: This team has bonded during pre-season, creating a brotherhood which will win us this competition.
Milton-Ulladulla Bulldogs
Finished in 2016: Didn’t play finals
Coach: Nathaniel Morrison
Gains: Arthur Scott, Kirren Roughley, Peter Lett, Joel Deaves, Sean Deaves, Nathan Deaves, Harry Myers, Graeme Martin, Jordan Thomas, Mitch Klein, Jacob Hemsworth, Steine Lofts, Matt Ringlands, Cale Symons, Mick Salafia.
Losses: Jason Wells, Gary Warburton, Adam Bliss, Jayde Tooth, Santino Battagliolo, Josh Pender.
Outlook for 2017: We will have a vast improvement by the club and its culture - we have got some new players and trainers to the club that bring a different perspective.
Why can we win premiership: I am confident that if we can play to our ability and stick to our game plans, we will be very competitive.
Albion Park-Oak Flats Eagles
Finished in 2016: Didn’t play finals
Coach: Adam Bezzina
Gains: Liam Joliffe,Tyson James, Jayden Murphy, Callum Azzopardi
Losses: Dean Gray, Sean Jenkins, Brad Meuleman, Aiden Menzies.
Outlook for 2017: We will be playing a very similar style of rugby league to many of our sides in years gone by, a simple game plan and plenty of work for each other. The aim is to improve from week to week and hopefully push for finals.
Why we can win premiership: For us to take out the competition, it will be off the back of hard work, consistency, luck and mateship.
Berry-Shoalhaven Heads Magpies
Finished in 2016: Didn’t play finals
Coach: Adam Vanzanten
Gains: Andrew Cowhan, Mitch McCloud
Losses: Jake Gould, Bryce Rutherford, Jack O'Brien
Outlook for 2017: A team that executes better, does the simple things well and tests others for 80 minutes, giving ourselves an opportunity to win matches.
Why we can win premiership: Our mental attitude and our ability to be better at the basics will put us in good positions to win games and be still playing footy throughout September.
Port Kembla Blacks
Finished in 2016: Didn’t play finals
Coach: James Storer
Gains: Karl Stowers, Shadi Elhardi, Mitch Rosser, Sam Asling, Jose Martinez, Peni Botiki
Losses: Deejay Harris, Will Tamari
Outlook for 2017: We are still a club that’s building – at the start of last year, we had nine players but now we have enough to field two competitive sides.
Why we can win premiership: The boys are starting to believe in our structure and in themselves, which should lead us to being more competitive this season.
Stingrays of Shellharbour
Finished in 2016: First season in first grade
Coach: Dean Gray
Gains: Dean Gray, Sean Jenkins, Todd Salt, Luke Hughes, Brandon Anderson, Jay Robinson, Kieran Paish, Arona Elsbury, Saukuru Keuwllar, Ravyama Seavula.
Losses: N/A
Outlook for 2017: You can expect us to be competitive in every game we play. As a team we are looking to improve each week and become an 80-minute team that no one wants to play against.
Why we can win premiership: To win the competition in our first year in first grade is an unrealistic goal at this stage. If win can string a few wins together and gain some confidence and players and the team improve, then that’s a win for us moving forward.