Some rugby league fans suggested on the Daily Liberal website recently that the Googars should consider playing back in Group 11 as they did several years ago. That’s not going to happen in the short term.
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The knockout teams each season give the players from all over the state the opportunity to play alongside each other again.
Kane Ashby said the two knockouts this year held at Dubbo and Bathurst have inspired him and others to make the team stronger next year.
"Everyone who played in the Dubbo and Bathurst knockouts enjoyed themselves and after the success that we had, everyone is keen to get organised earlier and try and do better next year," he said.
"After we played in the Waratahs event in Dubbo we went to Bathurst on the long weekend for the New South Wales knockout and made the semi-finals, which was a pretty big effort in a very good and competitive competition.
"Next year we’re going to concentrate on getting the side organised earlier and play in just the State Knockout, try to win it and get to host it back in Dubbo.
Key players for the Googars were NRL experienced backs Luke Walsh as captain from Penrith; Joel Thompson the Canberra Raiders and Australian Indigenous All Stars centre; and Joey Gibbs from South Sydney under-20s.
"Unfortunately Joel was injured in one of the early "ames and didn’t get to play in the semi-finals which was a shame as we thought we could have beaten the side that eventually won the competition (Mindaribba from the South Coast).
"We also had the likes of Kurt Beahan from Orange CYMS and Jeremy Gordon from Bathurst Panthers, as well as some of our players from around here such as Claude Gordon, Alex Ronayne, Mark Merritt, Kurt and Robbie Filler and Peter Boon.
At Bathurst the Googars beat La Perouse 54-0, Campbelltown Ghosts 26-0, and Cabertree Island after the two sides finished 10-all, but the Googars got through after scoring the first try; and then La Perouse No.1s in a physical forwards clash 18-4.
The semi-final against Mindaribba was a try fest with the Googars down 34-20. Kane Ashby said key sponsors for the side this year were Dubbo businesses Ross Harris Painting; Village Hot Bake and Morrison’s Eye Care; as well as Robb’s Butchery in Nyngan.
"We thank them most sincerely," Ashby said.
