Wanderers are forging path to brighter future
A FOCUS on developing club culture and building a squad for years to come will be the priorities for the Wanderers this FNQ Rugby season.
A first-round trip to take on defending champion JCU Mariners will make for a bumpy return to the competition, but the Green Machine won’t be totally driven by results this year.
Wanderers haven’t had a side in the senior competitions for the past few years, but former players and officials have rallied in the past 12 months to bring the club back from the dead. Traye Hodge, who serves as both vice-president and assistant coach, said the side was looking good ahead of the 14round season.
“The last few weeks have been a lot more positive,” Hodge said.
“Being a newer side and with a shorter season - we’ve only been able to train properly for a few weeks - it puts us at a bit of a disadvantage compared to other clubs, who have played together a bit longer.
“We want to be there in the finals, but it’s about trying to build the club for next year and to develop that club culture.
“We want to build as a team, we’d love to make the finals, but the No.1 goal for us is to build the team for years to come.”
The return of contact training has allowed the forwards to blow out the cobwebs after the extended off-season, as they count down the last few days before the season’s return.
“It was a bit awkward trying to work out how to put training sessions together - a lot of running, and we’ve all done a lot of that throughout the year,” Hodge said. “We’ve all had enough of that so it’s good to get back into it.”
JCU Mariners ended Barron Trinity Bulls’ run as the dominant force in FNQ Rugby last year, and will be looking to create their own dynasty.
Mudcrabs will kick-off the FNQ Rugby season against Brothers in a rare Thursday night clash at the Crabpot. The Bulls will kick off their season against the Reef Raiders at Port Douglas on Saturday.