In the dark mist of Robertson, one Highlands league club has begun its quest for glory in unseasonable weather.
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The Robertson Spuddies reserve grade head coach, Steve Ross, has his focus firmly on perfecting the team’s skills for the upcoming season with players out on the field recently in heavy fog for an early training session.
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There is no doubt Ross knows his stuff, having spent time with St George Illawarra and Cronulla and also as an assistant coach with the Kiama Knights.
“We’d like to go a bit better than last year,” Ross said.
“The club wants to make the top five in both grades, (Reserve Grade and Third Grade) and we’d like to get our 18s in the finals or at least close to them.
After an eight-year hiatus, the Robertson Spuddies rugby league club re-joined the Group 7 rugby league competition in 2018.
The club, was one of the founding members of the old Berrima District League in 1914.
Since returning, the culture at the Spuddies has been about having a good time, camaraderie and playing hard.
As the beers cooled on the ice and the snags cooked over the barbecue, this training session was about building up relationships, sharpening skills and getting ready for pre-season.
“This year’s just starting, so we’ll build off last year,” Ross said.
“The boys who are playing and a part of the club, love a laugh and we’ll continue to keep that going.”
Lineups for the 2019 season are still being worked out.
This may be the first training session, but there is room for more players to become a part of the club and become a Spuddie.
“Absolutely, we’ll have anyone that wants to play for the club,” Ross said.
“If you want to be a part of the team, there’s no try-outs, just show up to training, have a laugh with us, grab a beer afterwards and we’ll enjoy the game on the weekend.
Heading into pre-season, coach Ross wants to implement the skills learned from last year and get the players into fighting fit form.
“We’ll probably touch them up a bit,” he said laughing.
“We’ll build off of the skills that we introduced last year and we’ll go from there.
“The more the merrier at the Spuddies.”
This year’s just starting, so we’ll build off last year.
- Steve Ross, Spuddies head coach
The Robertson Spuddies pre-season training is held at the Hampden soccer fields in Robertson and training is held Tuesdays and Thursdays at 6 pm.
Regular season training will move over to the Robertson Showground, the Spuddies’ home ground.
Registration costs are $300.
For more information and to sign up to a team, head over to the Robertson Spuddies Facebook page and message your details through to the page.
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