THE URALLA Tigers have called on one of their best junior exports to lift the club up the Group 19 ladder in 2012.
Former South Sydney and St George first grader Anthony Kaberry is back in Tiger colours after a two-year absence and hopes this year will be a big improvement for the club.
“I played in 2008 and coached in 2009,” Kaberry said.
“The last couple of years I’ve been in Armidale playing rugby but they called me and said there’s no one to captain-coach the senior team. So I put my hand up.”
The Tigers have had more than their share of difficulties in recent years.
After that 2008 season when the Tigers made the move from Group 4 Second Division to Group 19 and Kaberry first came back to Uralla, the club has been in and out of first grade.
Last year a lack of players, especially first grade standard players, saw the Tigers head back to reserve grade mid-
season.
Kaberry said that was a necessary move but he hopes to have a bigger and stronger squad this year.
“Last year we had two choices – go back to reserve grade or fold.
“So we went back to reserve grade just so blokes could play some footy.
“There are some good, young players coming through here and we’ve got the under 18s.
“Walcha has helped us out.
“There’s about six coming from there and a couple of seniors might be coming too, we’ve heard, but we haven’t seen them yet.”
The Tigers haven’t fielded an under 18s side for a couple of years but club stalwart and another player who spent time with an NRL club, Carl Press, will coach the Tigers juniors this season.
He mentored the under 16s last year and they, along with some Walcha locals who played for North Tamworth last year, will form the basis for this year’s 18s.
He will also play in the senior side, along with another former NRL player and long-time Tiger, Scott Swain.
Along with Kaberry they provide a lot of experience in the pack.
“Swainy will be going around again,” Kaberry said.
“Swifty (Mark Swift) is the wrong side of 30 as well but he’s going to have a run.
“Jason Ketley and Glen Swilks might be playing too but we haven’t seen them yet.
“They’re good footballers.”
Grant Cooper and Tim Carlon will also add some first grade quality to the squad and Kaberry said he’d like to see the best under 18s players get a chance in the senior side later in the year too.
The Tigers’ league tag side will also go around again this year.
Amy Barraclough will captain-coach the team, which only missed out on the semi-finals last year by a whisker.
Kaberry is calling on anyone from the Uralla, Walcha and Armidale area who wants to join the club to come along.
“If anyone wants to come from Walcha or Armidale they’re more than welcome,” Kaberry said.
“We’ll be able to help out with travel so that it doesn’t cost them anything.”
Press will take his under 18s to Walcha next Thursday night for training from 6.30pm and any Walcha local, junior or senior, who would like to join up can attend that session behind the touch fields.
The rest of the Tigers will train as normal at Woodville Oval.
Training is every Tuesday and Thursday from 6pm and new players are welcome any time.
The club is only aiming to play one trial game before the start of the Group 19 season in late March but Kaberry said he is working his players hard at training to ensure they are fit.
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