The Barbarians are aiming to begin their 2019 season a lot better than last year.
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It took them until round six to secure their first win against Tamworth and returning coach Greg Wynn said their pre-season training has been heavily focused on launching out of the blocks.
"We started really poorly last year and we wanted to avoid that, we didn't win our first game until round six or round eight which made it very difficult later in the year to finish high on the ladder," Wynn said.
"We have worked hard in the pre-season, we have a bit of a way to go but feel we are in a better position than last year."
Fitness was a huge part of their ordinary start to last year and Wynn said they have upped their fitness regime.
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"We have attempted to address that, like all country clubs it is hard to get everyone there at the same time but we are optimistic," he said.
"We are a long way from being fit like the college sides but for our standards, I think we are a lot better than we were last year."
Their opening game this Saturday is against the side they secured their first win against last season.
Tamworth took a while to find their feet in the New England competition after transferring from Central North but they came home strong.
Wynn is expecting them to continue where they left off.
"I thought Tamworth followed a fairly similar game to us where they improved throughout the year so we are expecting them to be very good this year," he said.
"Last year it was a big change for them to come into the New England.
"I think it had a really positive effect on their club so we are thinking they are going to be tough this year.
"First game, an away game.
"We generally build momentum as a club, it takes us a couple of weeks to get going, so this is going to be one of our biggest tests this week in terms of our depth."
The Barbarian's women's sevens team have featured towards the top of the standings since the competition's inception in 2016.
Wynn said they have been training well and expects the girls to impress once again.
"The women's is pretty exciting," he said.
"We have got a few new faces there and a fair few of the girls were part of the New England make up so we are thinking that will benefit them."