In many ways, the Blayney Rams kick-off the 2018 New Holland Agriculture Cup – the Central West Rugby Union’s new second tier – on Saturday faced with plenty of unknowns.
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But fullback Cameron Cole says that’s what makes this season an exciting one.
The Rams have long been giants of the GrainCorp Cup's southern pool and on the back of three-straight premierships will this year make the step up to the new tier, one where the club will need to field two grades, embracing the challenge.
The unknowns, though, don’t start and end with a new competition.
New players and, on Saturday at King George Oval, new opposition in the form of CSU Bathurst make the 2018 season, as Cole puts it, “a lot harder than previous years”.
In full swing training now since Christmas, Cole says the Rams are prepared for the unpredictable students.
“I think we’ll match up well,” Cole said.
“They’ll be hard no matter what. They’re a bit of an unknown with new players coming from everywhere every year … they’re one of those clubs you never know what they’ll turn up with.
“That’s the thing with this comp, any team can win on their day.
“Everyone knows with the new Central West rugby competitions, it’s evenly matched. You can turn up anywhere and there’s no blow outs.”
Cole said the club has managed to lure Orange City prop Joe Blunt to the club while former CSU player Liam McArthur will also don the two blue hoops of Blayney.
Cole said the club will field two competitive grades in 2018, but getting everyone to the one training session has at times been a battle.
He said once the club gets a touch more continuity off the field, it’ll help the Rams “master the basics” on it.
“We’ve got some handy players in the forwards and the backs and that touch of individual brilliance that we can sometimes produce can help get us over the line,” Cole said.
Blayney plays host to CSU Bathurst on Saturday, with second grade kicking off at 1.50pm and first grade from 3.15pm.