The Inverell Highlanders have begun their preparation for the upcoming season in the Central North Rugby Union competition and they’re hoping 2012 is going to be a big one.
President Heath Roberts said the club had worked very hard to recruit new players and they have already secured the services of a number of international players, who are expected to fill the position gaps in the front row.
An import from New Zealand is already here training with the Highlanders and they hope to also have players from Fiji, Wales and Tonga on board for this season.
Former captain Dave Kearsey is taking on the coaching role this season and said he is confident the mix of returning players and new recruits should see the Highlanders field a strong side this season.
“We’ve been lucky this year,” Kearsey said.
“There’s a few new guys in town that I’ve talked to and approached personally.”
“We won’t really know until training kicks off but it looks like we could have a fair few new players.”
The Highlanders are expecting a tough season ahead with a number of teams likely to competitive, but Kearsey had no hesitation in nominating reigning premiers, the Tamworth Pirates as the team to beat in 2012.
“We know that and the rest of the zone knows that,” he said.
“There should be about four or five other really strong sides, but as the reigning premiers they’ve got to be the team to beat.”
The Pirates have now won the premiership three years in a row, but history shows that the Highlanders have beaten them in the past and they’re confident they will be able to do it again.
“We know we can beat them,” Roberts said.
“We did it in the grand final in 2006 and again in 2008.”
“It’s just a matter of getting the team to gel and Dave’s the bloke to do it,” he added.
Kearsey brings a lot of experience as a player to the coaching role, having captained the side for the past five seasons and is now looking forward to the challenge of taking over as coach and starting fresh for the new season.
2011 was a tough season for the Highlanders, with a number of injuries taking their toll on the team, but Kearsey is looking for a new direction this year.
“It’s definitely a season we’re going to put behind us and focus on 2012.”
“There’s more modern training techniques and recruitment processes so where expecting a tough year, but hopefully we’re prepared and can do well.”
The Highlanders held their first training session earlier in the week and Kearsey said he is hoping they will enough players so he can stick to coaching from the sideline and won’t need to play this season.
“At this stage what I want to do as a coach, I can do from the side of the field.”
“I took on the decision at the end of last year, so I’ve had a lot of time to prepare and think about what I want to do and I’m confident that what I want to do as a coach can be done with this crop of players.”
“In saying that, if we’re short on numbers and if it’s for the benefit of the team, I’ll definitely put a jumper on.”
The Highlanders are looking to field teams in the first and reserve grade competitions as well as under 16s and 18s if they have the numbers, so anyone who is interested in playing is encouraged to get involved this season.
Training will be important for the Highlanders as they look to field the strongest team possible for the competition, which Kearsey said is getting tougher and tougher each season.
“There’s a good crop of players from all grades so there’s no positions secured, whoever works hard and puts in a big effort in the trial games will be up for a first grade spot.”
The Highlanders are also looking for support from local businesses for sponsorship this season.
A sponsor’s night will be held on February 17 at the Rugby Club from 6.30pm where they will unveil their new jersey for the season and anyone who has ever though about sponsoring the Highlanders is encouraged to get behind them in 2012.
“We’re hoping we can get a lot of support from business houses who will turn up on the night, because it’s our support from the sponsors that puts us onto the paddock each year,” said Roberts.
“The better we can do with that, the more money we’ll have to put on a successful season.
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