THE Leeton Greens will be a force to be reckoned with at this weekend's West Wyalong knockout thanks to a host of new recruits that have helped to fill their ranks this season.
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Leeton will head to West Wyalong on Friday afternoon for their match against the Temora Dragons and the side will be hopeful of winning and playing in the second day of competition on Saturday. Their chances of doing so are looking good, with the club signing five new recruits during the off and pre-season.
Jiordan Fidow-Kele is a front rower hailing from New Zealand, who has also played at the Canberra Raiders, as well as the Canterbury Bulls last season.
He is being joined by two inclusions from Fiji, including another front rower in Villiame Kanatabua, who was the captain of his country's under 18s side.
The young player is expected to add plenty of power for the Greens.
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Anisito Komai, also from Fiji, is a halfback who was the NRL development officer in Fiji and has represented with various representative sides.
The trio will be complemented by George Broome who is coming across from the Griffith Black and Whites, as well as Warren Lloyd, a former captain coach of the Cootamundra Bulldogs and player with the Wagga Kangaroos.
First grade coach Warren Weir was looking forward to seeing how they fit into the team during this weekend's knockout.
"We're confident of a win against Temora, but for us it's more about having a hit out and seeing where everyone is at," he said.
"We're able to take a squad of 25 to the knockout and have 20 play in a game. So that's what we will be doing.
"There's 15-minute halves in the knockout, so I would expect the team we have run out in the second half will be pretty different to the first half.
"I want to be able to get a look at everyone and how they are going."
Weir said the new recruits had already fitted in well at the club and the feel around the side was already positive ahead of the 2020 Group 20 season.
"The guys we've got coming in are replacing a few that have moved on ... a couple of the Fijian guys we had last season have left, so we've been able to cover the losses really well I think," he said.
"We were a pretty small side last year."
With new players added into the mix, it also means a spot in first grade isn't always going to be guaranteed.
"Everyone will be working for their spot in first grade this year," Weir said.
"There will be blokes that played first grade last year that perhaps won't be this year.
"The pressure will be on everyone and everyone will need to be performing."
