The Highlands will have two elite rugby league clubs in 2022 with the Southern Highlands Storm being awarded a spot in Group 7 first grade.
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The Storm officially submitted a bid to field first and reserve grade sides in September with the proposal being accepted at the Group 7 AGM in Kiama on Wednesday night.
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New head coach Trevor Schodel said it was a relief when the news filtered through.
"The hard work's just about to start now," he told the Southern Highland News.
"We are assured of where our future is now as a club. Now we can turn around and say to players you are looking at first and reserve grade and Under 18s. It's best for both club and players.
With two out of three Highlands sides now playing in first grade, Schodel said the Storm had the opportunity to entice players back to the region as well as provide a pathway right to the top but stressed it wouldn't happen overnight.
"If players are wanting to progress they can have a look at Group 7 because it is a good competition," he explained.
"That opportunity is now at the Highlands Storm. Hopefully that will help entice players back [to the region] and families and kids to play for the juniors. They can progress through the junior ranks all the way to the seniors, which are now in a strong comp.
"I know locals like to come and watch a good quality game of football. They don't care which side wins or loses at the end of the day, they just want a side that goes out there and plays in a strong comp and competes.
"Of course we want to win games but we're a club that's only two years old and already in an elite competition in Group 7. We're not going to predict miracles but in two or three years time, you never know. It's good for the local area 100 per cent."
With preseason not set to get underway for a few weeks, the former Canberra Raiders halfback said he was hard at work assembling his inaugural team.
"You want to have a good spine, a nine, a one, six and seven," he said.
"In the last four to five years the sides that have won the NRL, their spines are made up of representative players.
"On top of that you need some old heads in the middle as well as young guys to bring that enthusiasm. The good thing is we've got a blank board, you could say. But at the end of the day all I want are guys who are committed and willing to sacrifice to achieve club and team goals."
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