MANNING Ratz rugby union coach Jake Maurirere said his players are already enjoying the pressure that comes with being the defending premiers.
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The Ratz go into the season starting on Saturday April 17 as champions for the first time. This followed the epic 27-15 win over Wallamba in last October's grand final. This was the club's first premiership in the Lower North Coast competition.
The Ratz also went through the truncated season undefeated. Due to the pandemic lockdown rugby didn't start until July and concluded in October. Maurirere said the players are looking forward to a regular season that finishes in August this year.
"We want to show that last season was no fluke.
"The players know they'll have targets on their backs as the premiers and they're looking forward to that added pressure,'' he said.
However, the 2020 roster was bolstered by rugby league players looking for a run after the Group Three competition was cancelled due to covid.
"It looks like we'll be keeping a few of the league players,'' Maurirere said.
"Jake and Corey Wheeler are staying on and Jake and his wife Bec have joined our committee. Jake and Corey just bring so much enthusiasm to training and that's great for our club.''
Jared Wooster and Jake Hazard will be returning to league with the Old Bar Pirates.
"They've both said they'd like to play some rugby when the Pirates have a Sunday game. But I suppose that'll depend on what the Pirates say,'' Maurirere agreed.
Fleet footed fullback Matt Bridge is a scratching as he recovers from knee reconstruction surgery. He was injured in the grand final.
The Ratz started training earlier this month and Maurirere said numbers have been promising. He'll be the head coach with Danial Stone again his assistant. Dave Rees and Bronson Rangi will be in charge of the women's 10s side.
"The numbers for the women have been great so far,'' Maurirere said. "Lucy Green hasn't missed a training session yet and she's in for a big year.''
The Ratz were beaten in the women's minor semi-final last year. Manning will meet Gloucester at Gloucester in the opening round of the season although Maurirere said there's a question mark as to whether the Cockies will have a team in the men's competition. "Hopefully they will, so we don't drop to five sides,'' he said.
The following week the Ratz will be at home to Forster, with the Dolphins returning this year after skipping 2020 due to concern at covid restrictions.
"It'll be interesting to see how they go after missing a year,'' Maurirere said.
MANNING Ratz rugby union coach Jake Maurirere said number eight Sam Hartnett has been training strongly after missing most of the last Lower Mid North Coast Rugby Union season with a knee injury, adding that Hartnett has completed all the drills without problem, showing his knee has recovered.
The Ratz will announce their leadership group at the season launch next month. Hartnett and Ricky Campbell went into last season as captain and vice captain, but both had injury problems. Jake Wheeler then took on the job and led the side into the grand final.
Maurirere said all are in the mix to have the (c) next to their name this campaign.
He said the Ratz won't be playing trials.
"It's a three round comp and that's long enough,'' he explained.
