The withdrawal of the title-holding Forster Tuncurry Dolphins cast a temporary pall over Saturday's start to the Lower Mid North Coast rugby union championship, only to be swept away in an avalanche of relief after the months of pandemic restrictions and the region's need for new stimulation.
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The Dolphins have won the premiership shield on seven occasions since the Mid North Coast Zone was divided in 2007, their last success completing the 2019 season unbeaten, and while their absence is painful, it has fired new ambition within the ranks of the remaining five clubs.
The decision of the Dolphins' prop forward, Gavin Maberly-Smith, to transfer to the Old Bar Clams is expected to see the likes of fellow club colleagues, the devastating Tongan backrower, 'Hau' Honema'u, and exciting Fijian loose forward, Atu Katonitabua, similarly change clubs.
We are training well, gelling well, but we have never won the shield so we are hungry and setting our sights high.
- Jacob Maurirere
Taree's Manning River Ratz and the Wallamba Bulls, of Nabiac, will present strong challenges this winter, the Bulls having rebuilt last year under coach Peter White following their 2017-18 premiership double.
Two forwards new in the Ratz's ranks are the ex-Bulls backrowers, Daniel Aldridge and Paul de Szell, along with several former rugby league players from the Old Bar Pirates club and the 20-year-old ex-Eastern Suburbs "Rooster", Jake Hazard.
Coach Jacob Maurirere says another of the club's league gains, Jarrod Wooster, is "a player with pace and skills".
"We are training well, gelling well, but we have never won the shield so we are hungry and setting our sights high," he said.
Coach Maurirere senses the Wauchope Thunder will be a threat this year, predicting they will recruit beneficially from rugby league's abandoned competition.
Where the Thunder's premiership women's team must rebuild is to strive to replace their champion of last year, Ellie Johnston, and find a new captain for Telea Waitoa, the services of both women having been bought by rugby league clubs in Sydney.
In tomorrow's first round of the Kennards Hire minor premiership, Wauchope meet the Ratz at Wauchope; the Wallamba Bulls play the Old Bar Clams at Nabiac; and the Gloucester Cockies have the bye.
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