The Gunnedah Bulldog, 29 - who played lower-grade footy at the Roosters, the Rabbitohs and the Newtown Jets - will make his Greater Northern Tigers debut in a round one Country Championships clash against Newcastle Maitland Region in Cessnock on Saturday.

He has been named at centre.

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The opportunity to play for the Tigers came about when he returned to his hometown of Gunnedah in early 2018 after a long stint playing first grade in Wollongong, where he won the 2014 premiership with Thirroul.

Also, the Country Championships has this year returned to the open-age format (previously it was under-23) - allowing older players like Jaeger to chance to play representative football.

"I've got no regrets," Jaeger said of his rugby league career, adding: "I went down there [Sydney] and did everything that I could. It's cutthroat - that's what it comes down to."

He continued: "The experience I got out of that is unbelievable. Some people make it, some don't, but everything I did I put 100 per cent into it."

Returning to Gunnedah and country life was surprisingly easy for him. "I thought it might have taken a little bit to get used to, but it didn't."

He added: "Whether or not I stay around, I'm not too sure. You kinda get the itch, once you've been around the beach, to kinda get back close to it at some stage. But for now, I'm happy where I'm at."

Returning the Country Championships to the open-age format had given "older heads" something to "strive for" other than club glory, he said.

"The guys that have been around, they've still got something to look forward to, if they wish to go down that track," he added.

TIGERS: 1 Mitchell Doring (Manilla), 2 Tex Lagmiri (North Tamworth), Reece Jaeger (Gunnedah), 4 Harlee Millgate (Werris Creek), 5 Kieren Williams (Werris Creek), 6 Scott Blanch, captain (North Tamworth), 7 Scott Briggs (Muswellbrook), 8 Adam Grew (Muswellbrook), 9 Jake Hawkins (Singleton), 10 Lincon Smith (Gunnedah), 11 Brady Benkovic (Denman), 12 Brett Jarrett (Dungowan), 13 Daniel Hoogerwerf (Aberdeen), 14 Fraser Evans (Dungowan), 15 Jayden Rosberg (Muswellbrook), 16 TBA, 17 TBA, 18 Adam Swadling (Aberdeen). Coach: Brad McManus (North Tamworth), assistant coach: Richard Ingram (North Tamworth).

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