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The people of Binalong have loved their Saturday Rugby League for decades and they would have been pleased to see the roll-up on a very wet Friday evening for the first training session for 2016. With the departure of a number of key players to Yass Magpies, the Binalong faithful would have been even more heartened to see a number of new faces for 2016.
New Brahmans President and Captain/Coach Ben Spencer commented: ‘I was very pleased to see the number of potential players from all three grades at training last week in such uncomfortable conditions.” With the Woodbridge Cup Premiership to defend, Spencer added: “Sure, the players we lost to Yass will be hard to replace, but I think our off season recruitment has been pretty good.” Woodbridge Cup will resume early April, after Easter.
Tony Worthy, who played everywhere from front to back row in 2015 will leave a big hole in Binalong’s strike power up front. Worthy, Ben Potts and Reuben Olah were instrumental in providing penetration out of their red zone for three seasons. If Potts and Olah join the Brahmans again this year, some consistency will be maintained, especially with Ben and Mick Spencer in the back row, The addition of Danny Arabin to the forwards also looks promising.
At mid-field, the loss of Scott Naughton and Chris Rawlinson is leaving an enormous gap in talent to fill. This pair were clearly a class above any other two players in the 2015 Woodbridge Cup competition and replacing them an almost impossible task. However, there will be very good replacements to come forward.
At the back, Andrew Swaffield and Craig Irwin will take some replacing as well. Irwin’s goal kicking added a dimension to the Brahmans play last season. The Brahmans Youth League Captain in Dylan Arabin filled in well at the back on occasions and kicked goals as well. His younger brother Jake will be an exciting addition to the U18’s side this year.
Ben Spencer added:-“I am not going to suggest we can repeat our performances of three seasons where we lost only one game, but I think we can be more than competitive in 2016.” The Brahmans will have to contend with Peak Hill and Trundle Clubs who are both tipped to be strong again in 2016. Grenfell Goannas and Canowindra Tigers also finished 2015 strongly, along with Eugowra.
The Mudgee Rugby League 9’s competition is to be staged during the last weekend of February at Mudgee, some indication of the strength of various teams may well show then. Binalong are yet to nominate for this format of the game. On a sad note, Woodbridge Cup stalwart, Tony Young is to be buried at Murringo this Friday 29th January after a long illness and his funeral will be 11:00am at St Mary’s Church Young.