CYMS Cougars skipper Ben Knaggs hasn't been in the top job long, but he's already shown that he belongs there.
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The Cougars' captain successfully led his young team into the finals last season and now has a much more experienced roster of first grade players to build on in the lead-up to the 2019/2020 RSL-Whitney Cup season.
This season, Knaggs wants to redouble the Cougars' efforts in order to leave the competition in possession of a title.
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"Yeah, the goal's always a title at the end of the season, we've got our head's in really good space right now, we're coming off a pretty good season last year, so hopefully we can go one better," Knaggs said.
Yeah, the goal's always a title at the end of the season, we've got our head's in really good space right now, we're coming off a pretty good season last year...
- Cougars' Captain Ben Knaggs
"For most of that team last year, it was our first final's series, it was a really good learning curve for the lads, it taught us a few lessons, so yeah going one step better would be really nice, but we're not looking too far in front of ourselves, it'll be one game at a time for us."
Knaggs noted that despite their success, the squad the Cougars took to the finals last year was 'very young' and would still be relatively inexperienced in the overall competition.
"We do have a very young side, both last year and this year again, but every game we play, we're getting stronger and just in first grade alone, we've seen results, we're teaching everyone to be patient, always keeping on their toes," Knaggs said.
"Sometimes last year our batting wasn't as patient as we wanted, so that's something we're improving at."
Unlike many of the squads they'll be competing against, the Cougars have kept much of their consistency heading into the 2019/2020 season, with the only major departure being that of batsman Stuart Naden.
"Stuart Naden's gone back to England, he was our opening batter last year, he kept a very steady head and was a senior player at the top of the order who helped us out a lot there, but we have great depth, the young squad's coming through, I'm sure they'll come up and do a great job."
The squad will also be supplemented by Newtown export Tom Barber, who'll be stepping up to round out the Cougars batting order in the centre of the order.
"Tom Barber has come across from Newtown, he bats really well in the middle order, so that's nice added value."
Knaggs said that his first year as skipper was 'really enjoyable' and he's looking forward to getting back to it, thanks to the support of his team.
"I'm settling in nicely, it's an easy job when you have great boys supporting you, guys like Nick Guthrie, Ben O'Donnell and Ben Strachan last year really helped me out."
The Cougars will meet the Dubbo Rugby Cricket Club when the first round starts on Saturday at Victoria Park.