The Elks will field first and second grade sides in this year's New England Rugby Union competition and had their first opportunity to play together in the trials.

The Blues toppled the Elks but Benton believes in the potential among the squad.

"I was really happy with it and I think, if we can keep the players, if we can get them for the whole of the season we will do a pretty well," he said.

"[There was] a lot of dropped ball and the attack was all disjointed because we haven't been able to train together. But there's a lot of talent there.

"Glen should be able to field two pretty competitive sides."

There's been plenty of hype around the clubs joining New England, like Walcha and the Harbour Knights, but Benton is happy for the Elks to fly under the radar.

"First year [back] in first grade, I don't think many people are giving us much of a chance," he said.

"I think we have got the players to do it [shock everyone], it is just going to depend on how they come together as a team and how everyone clicks and commits.

"We have got a really talented group there."

The Elks have recruited people with various amounts of rugby experience to the club this year, as well as retaining much of last year's premiership-winning third grade side.

Some have never played the sport before and the Blues provided advice before the game.

"They [Armidale] were very accommodating with everything we wanted to do," Benton said.

"They came gave some of our new fellas some front row coaching just prior to the game which is really helpful of them.

"We really appreciate that."

That advice must have helped as the Elks were dominant in the second grade scrums.

"We had two league fellas playing prop, so obviously never played contested scrums before and they won three or four tightheads," Benton said.

"I did not expect that. That was outstanding because they have never been in a competitive scrum before."

The season begins this Saturday with Glen Innes hosting the new Harbour Knights team.

Not much is known about the new club, the Harbour Knights, who are a joint venture between the Southern Cross University Marlins and Coffs Harbour Snappers but Benton is expecting a tough opening round.

"We will get out there and see what we can do," he said.

"If they are one of the stronger teams we measure ourselves against them in the first weekend, we know where we stand."

There won't be a women's sevens fixture.