Blayney supremo Tim Mooney has moved quickly to extinguish rumours his club is on the brink under a month away from their season kick-off, insisting the Bears will field four competition senior teams in 2019.
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Blayney has battled in the top grade over the last two seasons and a lack of depth has meant that pain has filtered through to the club's first division outfit too.
In seasons 2017 and 2018, the Bears won two premier league games and didn't jag a win in first division at all.
But Mooney is confident that will change this winter.
An influx of players - namely Panthers outside back Chris Shephard, St Pat's forward Leigh Monaghan and a trio of Papua New Guinea guns that have experience in the bush - is set to prop up Ben McKenna's premier league side as it builds towards a more competitive campaign in Group 10.
On top of that, the club's reserves have improved, numbers-wise, and the club's under 18s and league tag teams, two sides that have flown the Bears flag in recent seasons, are again on the up.
… it is disappointing we have to deal with people spreading rumours that we're folding but it's just not true.
- Blayney Bears president Tim Mooney.
“Our numbers in the 18s have picked up, the girls will be strong again and we'll have two senior sides … it is disappointing we have to deal with people spreading rumours that we're folding but it's just not true," Mooney fired.
"We’ll be strong and have a competitive side this year."
Blayney kicks off its 2019 season on March 30 against defending Group 10 premiers Bathurst Panthers, a match that also doubles as the curtain-raiser for the NRL game at Carrington Park.
The club's lower grades will then begin their respective campaigns on April 13, when round one proper is scheduled to kick-off.
Panthers made the finals in all grades, winning premier league and under 18s premierships last season.
It's a tough opener but one the club is ready for, Mooney said, admitting it was always a fight for Blayney to be competitive against larger centres.
"But we've got an extremely friendly club and we guarantee everyone of out players is paid at the end of the season," he added.
“We should field a very competitive side that night (against Panthers). The boys have been training for the last five to six weeks and we've been getting good numbers to training.”
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Nick McGrath
Editor, Central Western Daily
Editor, Central Western Daily
