GAINING a top three berth in the Football Mid North Coast Premier League will be Taree's goal this season, according to new captain-coach Jordan Howard.
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The 28-year-old will takes the reins, replacing Rod Bartley, who has been in charge for the past three winters.
Bartley has stood aside because of increasing work commitments. However, Howard assured Bartley will be still involved in the club.
"I was giving Rod a hand last season. I've been club captain for the last couple of years so coaching is a natural progression,'' Howard explained.
The Wildcats made the semi-finals in all three years of Bartley's tenure.
But Taree didn't make it past the first fortnight of the finals. Howard believes lack of depth has been the major issue when it comes to challenging the league's heavyweights, especially Wallis Lake and Macleay Valley.
"The top sides always have plenty of depth and that's important,'' he said.
"It is a problem for us, especially if we get injuries.''
However, he believes the Wildcats have the roster to challenge for an all-important top three berth, particularly if they don't get too many of their leading players on the casualty list.
Howard's 2018 campaign was hindered by a severe hamstring injury he sustained mid-season. He assures he's right for this year and will be playing in Saturday's FFA Cup encounter at Grafton.
Goal keeper Curtis Jones also had hit fitness concerns last year. Rated the best in the competition, Jones joined the Wildcats at the start of 2018 but missed much of the second part of the season due to illness.
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Howard said Jones isn't quite 100 percent yet, but he'll be a sure starter.
"Curtis's been playing six-a-side with us and he's getting close to full fitness,'' Howard explained.
He expects the nucleus of last season's side to be back again, with striker Ricky Campbell, who has switched to rugby, the only notable absentee. Veteran Justin Atkins has resumed training.
Howard revealed Taree's premier league teams and youth open squads have been training together and he expects this will lead to better communication.
He is a Singleton junior who played in what is now known as the National Premier League with Weston Bears while attending university in Newcastle. He's been with the Wildcats for the past five years. He hopes to play his favoured wing spot this season.
"I'm not old enough to move into the centre just yet,'' he smiled.
It's early days yet but Howard said he's enjoying his new role, although he realises there'll be some testing time ahead.
"It'll be a new challenge - I'm looking forward to it
