IT HAS been a busy off-season for the Phantoms, with the club looking forward to a positive and successful 2015.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
The club has secured the services of former Black and Whites premiership coach Seru Rogo, as well as a number of recruits – Dan Patu, Farrel Maota, Marika Vunibaka and Stuart Dyer.
It has been one of the most successful off-seasons the club has experienced in recent times, with president Bart Challacombe looking forward to the season starting.
“The season is still a bit of a way off, but we’re already gearing up for it,” Challacombe said.
“It’s great news for us to have Seru come on as coach.
“Obviously he had a good year with the Blacks in 2014, leading them to a premiership. He’s fitting in really well, so it’s great.”
Assisting Rogo in the role will be Liam Ward, who also has many years of experience.
Matt Allen will take on the role of reserve grade mentor, while Challacombe will coach the women’s sevens side.
“We’ve been getting some really great numbers at training already,” Challacombe said. Some nights there can be between 15 and 20 and others we’ve had up to 50 blokes. It’s really pleasing to see.”
Challacombe was looking forward to welcoming new recruits on board.
“We’ve got two that are coming from New Zealand … they have both played at pretty high-levels,” he said.
“The pleasing aspect is for the first time in a while we should have pretty good depth right across the park. Having these new blokes come in to lead on-field is also a bonus.
“What it will mean is everyone will need to train hard to fight for their spot in first grade. Hopefully it also means we won’t have to be relying so heavily on our under 17s to back up on Saturdays.
“That will them give them more experience in age rugby and possibly second grade before we need to bring them up.” The Phantoms will kick off their official preseason matches at the Cootamundra 10s carnival on March 7 before returning to Leeton for the 15s carnival on March 21. Challacombe is also hoping to line up a trial match for March 28.
“There’s a draft draw out for the season proper, with our first match against Ag College,” he said.
“Hopefully we’ll be raring to go by then.”
