MATT Lantry is excited about his 2007 season.
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Delighted to have won a berth in the Northern Division Tigers senior side, the Greta-Branxton captain-coach is also in his first term as a coach.
Originally from Maitland, he spent three years with the Newcastle Knights and a season with Newcastle Wests before returning to Maitland last year.
"It was a long 12 months," Lantry recalled of the struggling club.
"I did a little bit of coaching with Maitland last year but this is my first time as a captain-coach.
"It's something I've always wanted to do.
"It's good to get a crack at it."
At this stage, Lantry, who has been selected at lock for Northern Division in Saturday's Country Championship clash with Central Coast at Aberdeen, is unsure where he will play for Greta/Branxton.
Five-eighth is also a possible position.
"I'm not really sure yet," he said.
"We have got some depth there this year.
"We had a couple of other players from Maitland come here and a couple from Singleton.
"So we will have a bit of pressure for spots."
He said the arrival of prop Brendan Plum from Turvey Park was a bonus.
"His uncle lives here and he came up looking for work," Lantry said.
"He goes good.
"And Craig Edwards played at Wyong last year."
Both Plum and Edwards were in the Group 21 side which won the Northern Division Championship.
Also, Singleton's Jacob Munzenberger and Mick Hampson add plenty of oomph to the pack.
"We are going to have a good pack," Lantry said.
"And we have a good crop of Under 18s coming through too. They are the future of the club.
"We had five in the Group 21 side and they are a good chance of winning the Group 21
premiership."
Halfback Jacob Brown and centre Sam Russell also won berths in the Northern Division Juniors side to play Central Coast on Saturday.
NORTHERN DIVISION SENIORS: 1 Luke Taylor (North Tamworth), 2 Bryce Neely (Singleton), 3 Luke Gardner (Singleton), 4 Andrew Loveday (West Lions), 5 Dane Kershaw (Coonabarabran), 6 Chad Solman (Singleton), 7 Gary McKeon (Denman), 8 Ben Hagan (Aberdeen), 9 Nathan Dureau (Denman), 10 Michael Milgate (Scone), 11 Jeremy White (Scone), 12 Mathew Jarrett (West Lions), 13 Luke Hutton (Guyra), 14 Gavin Jarrett (West Lions), 15 Jeff Richardson (Guyra), 16 Mathew Lantry (Greta-Branxton), 17 Lindsey Pawley (Wee Waa). Coach - Jamie McCormack, manager - Tony Goldman.