Idris, who played with Canterbury, Gold Coast and Penrith and also represented NSW and Australia, is the cousin of new Tiger signing Thomas Dooker.

He made city media headlines last year when indicating he could play with Port City in Group Three this season. That was when Dooker was with the Breakers and now Wingham treasurer Craig Martin has confirmed that Idris could play in one of Wingham's charity games in 2016 to team-up with his cousin.

Clubs are permitted to play guest players - usually ex-NRL stars - in the charity games and there's a strong chance Idris will pull on the black and gold this winter.

Former Newcastle fullback Robbie O'Davis made an appearance last year but had only a short stint on the field before suffering an injury.

Wingham open the 2016 campaign on Saturday against Taree City at the Jack Neal Oval.

Captain-coach Kurt Lewis is the club's made off-season signing. Lewis, a North Coast representative, has previously played with Forster-Tuncurry, Old Bar and Port City. This is his first coaching appointment. He played five-eighth in the club's only trial game against Hawks Nest-Tea Gardens this month.

Dooker is also expected to be available for Saturday's encounter where he could start in the centres. He is also capable of playing in the back row.

Wingham will field much the same side as made the semi-finals last year.

Club officials are tipping another big season for promising hooker Mitch Collins, who was the group's rookie of the year in 2015.

Young wingers Tate Grofos and Mick Bailey were also impressive in the trial game and will push for first grade selection while the Bridge brothers, Tim and Matt, will worry any defensive pattern.

Veteran Trent Green should form an effective partnership with new captain-coach Lewis.

Stalwart forwards Ben Welsh and Michael Richards are backing up for another season and will add experience to the engine room.

Craig Martin said at the group's season launch that the Tigers are setting achieveable aims for this year.

"We're hoping to get a home semi-final,'' he said.

The Tigers haven't won a first grade premiership since 2003. Wingham were reserve grade grand finalists last year.

Wingham's first home game will be against Old Bar Pirates on Saturday April 9.

In other first round games this weekend Port City meets Port Macquarie, Old Bar travels to Tuncurry to tackle Forster-Tuncurry while Macleay Valley return to the Group Three competition against 2014 grand final opponents Wauchope at Wauchope.

Meanwhile it has been confirmed that the annual representative fixture against Group Two will be played at Taree's Jack Neal Oval on Saturday April 30.