BLAYNEY has announced its coaching staff for the 2015 Group 10 season, and in a surprise move, 2014 captain-coach Terawhiti Cooper has stood down from the job, replaced by gun Bears’ forwards Michael Nixon and Dane Howarth.
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Cooper, who this week survived a Group 10 appeal regarding his well documented suspension from the end of season 2014, will miss just the first two games but won’t resume the top job upon his return.
“TC (Cooper) was happy to step back,” Bears’ president Adam Hornby said.
“He is signed on again to play in 2015, and is keen. We sat down with him, and he said to us we’d get a better footballer out of him than we would captain-coach.
“I think he felt the pinch in terms of pressure last season, so not having that burden should be good for him.”
Despite only being October, Hornby said the club is already planning an all out assault on the 2015 premier league season.
He said the fact Nixon and Howarth, both former Orange CYMS players, are Blayney juniors will provide the Bears a useful recruitment tool.
“Being local boys, we’re hoping they might convince a few more locals to play as a start,” Hornby said.
“Josh Nixon is already one who is coming back. We’re very confident in Mick and Dane, they’re both very experienced football players and we know that will rub off on (the rest of the team).
“It was a bit of a surprise in a way, we had someone lined up until the boys put their hands up. It was an easy decision in the end, and we think they’ll definitely help in terms of recruitment.”
Hornby said the Bears are already negotiating with several big name players in the area for 2015 and potentially beyond, but declined to reveal said stars’ names.
He did reveal many of the Bears’ best currently remain off contract for next season, and one has left already, but added he is confident of resigning them.
“We are chasing a few blokes from around the place, but we’ll keep that under wraps,” Hornby said.
“We’ve got a good basic foundations. We’re confident Josh (Rainbow) will be back, but we’re not sure about Kurt (Beahan) who has just had a baby.
“Sam Coyte is one who has left, we’re under the impression he has gone back to Orange Hawks.
“If we keep our core group and pick up a couple of extras, we’ll be competitive.”
Adam Lowe has signed on to mentor Blayney’s first division side, while Jake Crooks and Alex Pettit will coach the Bear cubs in under 18s.