Aaron Daniel has already achieved a lot in rugby league but he's confident the Macquarie Raiders will help him reach a whole new level.
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The hard-running back-rower is the third of the Raiders recruits from Cairns and comes to Dubbo having played a plethora of high-level, representative, and knockout matches.
A standout with the Tully Tigers with a knack of finding the tryline in recent times, Daniel joins fellow Queensland recruits Beau Satrick and Lui Lockington in Wes Middleton's Raiders rebuild.
"The way we've been training here, you'll see the best out of me," Daniel said, having been in Dubbo for only two weeks.
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Lockington is a towering outside back with speed to burn and has been tipped by Middleton as one to watch, while Satrick is also set to add some spark to the Macquarie backs. He's a cousin of NSW Blues gun Josh Addo-Carr.
But it's Daniel who could provide the biggest impact as he's keen to make an impact both on and off the field in 2019.
Former Raiders coach Dylan Hill, who has since replaced Middleton in the top job at Narromine, spoke time and time again about the need for leadership in the forwards last season.
Daniel is eager to provide that and help replace the likes of young guns Jayden Merritt and John Ciappara, who have left Macquarie for fierce rivals CYMS.
Daniel, also capable of featuring in the centres, was the last of the Cairns-based trio to get the call from Middleton and only had a matter of weeks to decide to move or not.
But move he did, and he and his partner now both call Dubbo home.
"We want to be here for a few a years now," Daniel said, before speaking about his aim to be a leader.
"When Wes needs me somewhere I'll be there. He's seen that I'm vocal at training and that's a good thing.
"When it's time to get focused I can leave the jokes aside and head forward."
The chance to work under Middleton was a big attraction for Daniel.
The highly respected Middleton has put a major focus on discipline during his first off-season at the helm, going as far to say "you either want to come and do the hard work or find a new club, pretty much".
A number of players from last year have gone on to find a new club, with the likes of Jai Merritt, Ash Widders, Jade Hooper, and Kurt Fuller among those who have joined Merritt and Ciappara on the departure list.
But the players who have been turning up who are the focus, and Daniel is adamant Middleton will get the best from the new-look squad.
"He was a big part of it. He's good and he treats you hard," Daniel said of the captain-coach.
"Hopefully this is a good group of boys and we can go far this year. If everyone puts their head down and does the work then hopefully we can get to the big dance."
Macquarie finished last season in fifth spot before being beaten 38-0 by eventual premiers Forbes in the elimination semi-final.