His grandfather, Kingsley 'Dooley' Collins was a fine player and later administrator with the Tigers who was one of the great characters of Group Three Rugby League. Collins's dad, Paul, played all his football with the club and later coached and worked on the committee. These days he's among the more vocal spectators. Collins's brother, Beau is a current player.

At 23 Collins is coming into his fifth year of first grade. A hooker, like his dad, Collins grew up hearing stories of great Wingham premiership-winning seasons. But he's never won a comp. This year he hopes to change that.

"I love the culture at Wingham...I'd never play anywhere else,'' he said.

Collins believes the Tigers will give it a real big go this year under captain-coach Mick Sullivan, a club junior who returns to the club after playing in the NRL and then winning five premierships in nine years with Orange CYMS in Group 10.

"Everyone's excited,'' Collins said.

"Mick's got such a great knowledge of the game and the enthusiasm he brings to training is unreal. We've had much the same playing style here for a couple of years, but Mick's changing that around.''

The Tigers have bolstered their roster with the acquisition of Sullivan, another club junior Tim Whatson, former Old Bar players Jake Wheeler and Nathan Mahe along with Kyran Bubb, a utility forward from Orange while Kurt Lewis returns after playing with Muswellbrook in 2018.

Collins has been among Wingham's better players since coming into first grade from under 18s. He's confident his game will improve under Sullivan's guidance.

"I just really want to pick his brain and I'm sure that'll help my football,'' he said.

Wingham hasn't won a premiership since 2003 and they haven't really been close in the years since. Collins started playing footy when as a young boy. But in that time he hasn't even run out in a grand final. He hopes that'll change in the Sullivan era. Sullivan has signed for the next two seasons.

"I think we're really well placed with Mick to build up for the next two years and into the future after that,'' Collins said.

"We know that Macleay going to be tough, but we're not worried about any other team. We have the best and most loyal supporters in the group and we're all looking forward to playing in front of them, especially at home.''

This is the 30^th anniversary of Wingham's premiership win in 1989 under Kim Patrick. Collins hopes this will be an omen. Wingham meet Forster-Tuncurry at Tuncurry on Sunday in the opening match.