While much of the talk around the Group 11 off-season has been around the Macquarie Raiders' huge recruitment drive, the departure of a number of players from CYMS, and Wellington aiming to defend the title it won in 2019, the Nyngan Tigers have quietly been going about their business.
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And that's just how captain-coach Jeremy Smith likes it.
The Tigers approached the off-season with the goal of plugging some gaps rather than overhauling the squad.
The majority of players recruited to play the 2020 season before it was abandoned have returned while some shrewd additions and a strong group of juniors ready to step up has Smith feeling quietly confident.
"I definitely reckon we'll have a good team," the Western Rams hooker said.
"There's a good core group and if we turn up and play for each other I reckon we can give it a shake.
"We'll be there towards the top of the ladder, hopefully, but it comes back to the effort from the boys."
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Group 11 fans have already got a look at one of Nyngan's major recruits, with Guy Thompson playing alongside Smith for the Western Rams in the Open Age Country Championships the past two weekends.
A big body with a strong running game and handy offload, Thompson is one Smith is already excited to see line up in the black and gold.
The Tigers have also secured Peni Botiki, Ben Baker, and Ngatokorua Dawson from clubs in Sydney as they look to take one more step after being knocked out at the preliminary final stage in 2019.
None of those names might leap of the page like recruits at some other clubs but that's fine with Smith as the Tigers continue preparing for the new season with plenty of energy and positivity around training.
"We've been pretty quiet as well and just keeping to ourselves. I think it's the main focus," he said.
"We're just keeping to ourselves and aren't worried about what other teams are doing. We're just doing our thing and making sure we're ready to go.
"We've got a few new players but we've kept the bulk of the squad together, which is really good."
The one talking point around the Tigers during the off-season was a rumoured pursuit of Jeff Lima.
The signing of the former NRL star and international was a possibility late last year but Tigers president Glenn Neill said it is now " done and dusted" and no conversations have taken place in months.
While signing someone the calibre of Lima - a prop who played 116 matches in the NRL and won a premiership with Melbourne - would have been a huge boost for the Tigers, captain-coach Smith is happy what's on offer now and has plenty of confidence in the juniors at the club.
A strong contingent of Tiger cubs are currently playing with Macquarie in the Western under 21s competition and making their presence felt in the competition.
Sonny Knight, Cooper Ryan, Bill Quarmby, Terrance Ryan, and Jak Jeffrey are all lining up for the Raiders but are regularly at Nyngan training and will return to the club for the new Group 11 season.
"They're at every training session busting their arse," Smith said.
"And it's what I've said, whoever is at training will get the first crack. There's no favourites and if you put in, you'll get the opportunities in trial games or at some time during thew season.
"There's a good group of young fellas coming through at Nyngan and it would be a shame to lose them to other clubs so we've got to look after them."
Jeffrey, in particular, has caught Smith's eye.
"He's a big body and looks like he's going to be a great footballer in the next couple of years so he'll be pushing for first grade," Smith said.
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