“It won’t change our dynamics of just getting ready for the first competition game,” Stevens said.

“There’s no prediction there. It’ll be just a matter of getting out and blowing a few cobwebs out and having a look at a few new blokes. It’s just about getting together that day.”

Stevens said he thought the Hawks could go into the pre-season round robin with a bit of cohesion.

“We’ve probably got four or five new players who will come into the first grade squad, probably to the disgust of a couple of other clubs,” Stevens said.

“But we’re just going to put our best foot forward and see where it leads us.”

Stevens said the Hawks had to improve on last year’s efforts.

“If we don’t, then we’ll just get the same result,” he said

“We’ve just got to work hard because if we don’t put the effort in at this time of the year then we’re not going to get results later on. Every year is different. You don’t know what other clubs have got and what they’ve lost, and it’s the same with us.

“Probably on paper we’re no worse off, but it depends on injury, how hard you work and in the end you need a bit of luck to win competitions. From my side we’ll be doing everything to be a better side, but whether that happens or not, we don’t know.”

Stevens said he thought the Moree Boomerangs would be the front-runners again this year.

“The Moree Boars and probably Armidale will be there too. I think the Boars will be the big improvers, but to be honest, we’re not focussed on anybody else, we’re just focussed on the squad we’ve got,” he said.

Stevens also said he is not expecting any favours from Group 19 this year.

“Not from comments the president or vice-president have put in the papers lately,” he said.