It won't be anything like a normal training session but Alex Ronayne can't wait to be back around his Macquarie Raiders again this weekend.
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While uncertainty remains around the fate of the 2020 Group 11 season the Raiders will be making the most of the easing restrictions when the first grade squad gets together for the first time in a couple of months this weekend.
They will follow the current guidelines set in place by the government and NSWRL and i's not an official club session but players will be split into three groups to ensure there is not many than 10 people in the one place.
And while it's still not the dream hit-out or even official training session he'd like to have at this time, captain-coach Ronayne wants the focus to be on morale and camaraderie.
"It will be great. Everyone's been in isolation and with the family and work and I haven't seen the boys," he said.
"It will be good to get that feeling back and touch the football.
"We'll do a bit but it won't be too much. It will just be a catch-up and a run around and get back in the motions. Just getting around each other, having that communication and get that vibe going again."
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Ronayne's full first grade squad is close to 30 players so he, assistant coach Peter 'Chicka' Gibbs, and off-season recruit Josh Toole will each take a group.
Toole has a background in the fitness industry and is someone Ronayne has previously stated he would be looking towards a lot now they were playing together in Group 11.
The sessions will be more of a come-together run by Ronayne and Toole rather than a training session.
The pair were part of a massive recruitment drive at the Dubbo club, with roughly an entire new side arriving in the off-season.
Numbers had been huge in the early parts of pre-season and the club had taken part in the West Wyalong Knockout and played another trial before all rugby league activity was temporarily suspended.
There's yet to be confirmation if the season will go ahead, with the Group 11 board currently waiting on a NSWRL announcement on June 1 and further government advice before locking in what would be a shortened campaign.
"The feeling is good and I hope we do play," an optimistic Ronayne said.
"Some days you hear we're on and we're going to be playing and then the next day someone says it won't be on. But it's looking like it's pointing in the right direction with things easing and I'm hoping we do get to play."
The lack of concrete information is the one frustrating aspect for Ronayne and so many others involved in community sport.
While the NSWRL update will be key to any hope of play, it is believed the NSW Office of Sport is also working on a plan for the resumption of all community sport but there has been no update as of yet.
"It's been good at Macquarie. Any time [committee member] Gav [Board] and the board hear anything they let me know straight away but it can be frustrating because you hear so many other things.
"We would like to know what's happening only because you hear so much. It would be good for the players to hear more."
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Nick Guthrie
I started working at the Daily Liberal in 2013 and now hold the position of senior journalist. I cover all that's happening in sport in Dubbo and the wider western area and have a passion for doing so. If you've got a story that needs telling, reach out.
I started working at the Daily Liberal in 2013 and now hold the position of senior journalist. I cover all that's happening in sport in Dubbo and the wider western area and have a passion for doing so. If you've got a story that needs telling, reach out.
