While the dust may have only just settled on the Hay Magpies season, they are already gearing up for next year with the announcement of their first-grade coaches for 2020.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
The experienced pairing of Jamie Woods and Tim Lomai will be taking charge of the Magpies as they look to build on what has been one of their more successful seasons in recent memory.
The club finished the 2019 season with seven wins and nine loss culminating with a 22-18 win over Yenda at Wade Park on Sunday.
Club president Jack Brynes great to be able to start planning ahead for next season.
"The whole club knows the direction we are heading in now, and it will allow us to make positive steps ahead of preseason," he said.
"Coming into the season off the back of three wooden spoons we were aiming to get into the bottom of the five. We would have liked to have picked up some more wins, but we are happy with the direction the club is heading."
Both Woods and Lomai have experience at the top level, and Brynes hopes this will help to see the club continue its positive momentum.
"Jamie has a lot of experience under his belt," he said.
"He was in the Melbourne Storm system for a few years and played for the Australian under 16s international team in rugby union.
"Tim has represented Papua New Guinea at the international level as well as playing for the PNG Hunters in the Intrust Super Cup in Queensland.
"He has been exposed to high-level coaching and will be able to pass on his knowledge of the game.
"These guys are great mates, and we are hoping the combination will keep us on the right track."
Brynes feels there is a positive atmosphere around the club that has been present even during the tough seasons.
"We were only talking about this on Saturday, even when the club picked up the three wooden spoons it was pretty positive around the place," he said.
"We finished just outside the top five, and we are classing it was a successful season.
"The impact of the first-grade success isn't just felt by those boys, but it has also had an effect on the reserve grade.
"We have had a couple of former players expressing interest in making a return to help the strengthen the lower grade."
RELATED
***
While you're with us, did you know that The Area News is now offering sports as part of its growing email newsletter service? Our sports email will keep the sports-mad up-to-date with a round-up of all the weekend's sports action - sign up here.