SEVEN-time rugby union champions of the Lower Mid North Coast rugby region, Forster Tuncurry Dolphins, frustrated by their abandoned grand final against the Manning River Ratz last winter, will use next month's annual Crescent Head "Sevens" tournament as a talent-discovering exercise for the Kennards Hire premiership.
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"Every season, we are on the hunt for new blood, new players," coach Ron McCarthy said at the weekend.
"The search goes on. It is never any different. Every new season brings its challenges," he said.
"We had several valuable new players come to the club last winter and it was a shame we could not utilise the new-look team against the Ratties in the grand final after they beat us in all three minor premiership games. We were very confident of the outcome.
"One important consideration at training for us this year is the COVID-19 precautions necessary at the clubhouse at Barclay Field."
The Dolphins' club captain and dynamic Mid North Coast Axemen's representative backrower, Blake Polson, has been encouraged by the attendance of Dolphins' players in pre-season workouts for the Crescent Head seven-a-side tournament, scheduled to be played in the last weekend of February.
Polson said: "It's early days, but it has been pleasing to see our numbers at training although we don't start official training until Tuesday (January 25)."
Two players running well are Sean Hassett, the Dolphins' impressive Bruce Greensill Medallist from last winter, and industrious halfback, Liam Brady.
One crucial position the Dolphins are expecting to require is at five-eighth where former MNC Axemen representative winger, Jesse Logan, played so pleasingly late last season.
Every season, we are on the hunt for new blood, new players.
- Ron McCarthy
"I've got my builder's licence and started up my own business and can ill-afford injury with an apprentice to pay," Logan said.
Logan adapted splendidly to his change of position last year, his close-in tackling and general defence one of the major factors in his successful positional transition.
For several seasons, the five-eighth position was occupied by two of the Dolphins' finest players, former NSW Country representative, David Birch, and then by Matt Nuku, who returned to Queensland three years ago after captaining the Dolphins to an unbeaten premiership season in 2019.
Optimistically, skipper Mark Hagarty will return to the inside-centre position he has occupied with distinction for a decade.
Steven Rees, the third-year president of the Manning River Ratz, similarly lamented the cancellation of last season's grand final, saying: "We were quietly confident of claiming back-to-back premierships. We have begun training and are shaping well with several new players at the club."
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