The Glen Innes Magpies have their sights set on avenging their last-start grand final loss when the Group 19 season gets underway.
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The rugby league pre-season is in its final preparations as Group 19 gets set to begin on May 1 and 2 and the Magpies are at home first up to play Guyra.
Gavin Petersen has taken over as coach of the A-grade team and said they began the season with a bowls day run by the Glen Innes Magpies Old Boys.
"The Old Boys put on a barefoot bowls/ social day to invite both clubs to kick off the season and wish them all the best," he said.
"It was pretty quiet actually.
"Most of the minor league committee had prior commitments because they have the Gordon Creighton Cup day coming up so a lot of them booked in holidays and so forth. But there was a few of the senior committee and A grade players there."
On the field, Petersen said things are starting to look promising.
"Initially numbers have been slow at training but just in the last week or so, it has been gathering momentum and we are starting to put a pretty good side together of all local boys," he said.
"They are enthusiastic to get into it and to make amends for the last time we played which was in the grand final."
Most of the 2019 grand final team have returned as well as a few new faces.
Due to a lack of numbers in the junior ranks, the the under 19 competition was cancelled for this year.
Petersen was disappointed to not have enough players for a side but is happy some of those interested are turning up to A-grade training.
"We only had four or five, or six, putting their hand up at training and just couldn't drum up any interest from anywhere else to join together," he said.
"It is very disappointing for the whole Group to not be playing.
"But those boys who were keen, we don't want to lose them to the game. Some of them are sticking around and playing with the seniors so that is always good to see. I think if they keep training and putting their hand up and getting their confidence up, I am sure a couple of them will [play A-grade].