THE Yenda Blueheelers have begun to rebuild their depleted first grade squad with the key signing of former under 20s Canberra Raiders player Tom Sellars this week.
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After the departure of Trevor and Chris Richards, Trent McFadzean, Lance Poka and Ray Mavroudis, the club has been on the look out for its next generation of stars.
Sellars' recruitment is the first in what is expected to be several new signings for Yenda, with another tipped to be announced in the next fortnight.
Yenda's Sam Panarello said it was an exciting time for the club and Sellars was an important signing for the Blueheelers' new-look first grade side.
"With the amount of players who retired, we need to sign more marquee players," Panarello said.
"We have lost a fair bit of experience and we're expecting Sellars to provide some of that leadership we've lost."
Sellars said he was looking forward to the move and the chance to lead the Blueheelers' younger players next year.
"I'm still only pretty young myself but I've had a couple of years playing at Canberra and I got a bit of experience doing that so hopefully I'll be able to bring something to the club," he said.
"Having a bit more leadership is what interested me as well, it's something I'm pretty to be doing."
Panarello said Sellars had a lot of talent and the club hoped to make the most of it by installing him as a second or front rower.
"Ability wise, Tom is up there with a young Trevor (Richards) but he just needs to realise how good he is and be able to perform every week," he said. "Some of the young guys of this era have got a problem with consistency and we're focusing on getting that back."
Sellars was meant to make the move to Yenda last year but made a last-minute decision to play with some mates at the Cootamundra Bulldogs.
But Sellars said he was now committed to putting on the blue and white for Yenda in 2013.
"I didn't really enjoy where I played last year and I kept in touch with Yenda throughout the season," he said.
"They had a good season, even though they didn't make the finals. They seem like there's a good bunch of blokes and coaches and I think it's going to be enjoyable."
The club has cast a wide net for its 2013 squad with president Adam Goldman heading to New Zealand to talk to some potential players.
Goldman is heading over with Yenda's Shannon Rupapere, who will be playing in the Maori tournament which is being held this weekend.