RIVERINA FOOTBALL LEAGUE
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OUTGOING Narrandera co-coach Jim Rice will not return for a fourth season at the Eagles and has signed with Canberra club Ainslie.
Rice yesterday confirmed he will join North Eastern Australian Football League (NEAFL) club Ainslie next season after three years travelling from Canberra to play with Narrandera.
He will be remembered as the man who helped the Eagles to their drought-breaking premiership in 2012 when he combined with Shaun Brooker as co-coach.
Rice showed enormous commitment to travel to and from Canberra for training and games over three years and explained it was a difficult decision to leave the club.
"It was a tough decision to leave Narrandera but it was time for the family and I to spend weekends at home instead of in the car," Rice said yesterday.
"I loved everything about playing footy in Narrandera and the Riverina. Good, honest, hard football, with good honest hard people.
"The footy and family cultures run together, add to that the support and the environment that a one team town provides is something that will stay with me for a very long time."
Rice first joined Narrandera in 2011 as a player, then stepped up with Brooker to co-coach for the 2012 and 2013 seasons.
They stood down at the end of the season after a disappointing eighth place finish where injury and suspensions made the year very difficult.
Rice said there was no doubt as to what was the highlight of his time at Narrandera.
"Winning the RFNL premiership in 2012 is something that I will never forget," Rice said.
"But the way that we won it in 2012 and being able to share it with my brother (Mark) and guys with whom I've played all my footy with was equally as special as the win itself."
Rice not only gave a lot to Narrandera but always made himself available for representative duties and this year kicked the winning goal and was best-on-ground in RFL's win over AFL Sydney's under 23 team.
"I am happy with what I have achieved in the RFL and in football," Rice said.
"I have made great friendships and shared in the great RFL rivalries and I will miss it all.
"I was very lucky to have mentors like Shaun Brooker, Victor Hugo, Gary Powell, Damon Burden and Dennis Piltz to name a few for the two years I shared the coaching role.
"The relationship between Shaun and I from the get go was natural and has led to a very good off field friendship also."
Rice is now looking forward to the challenge ahead at Ainslie.
"I am excited about the chance and the challenge to play for Ainslie in the NEAFL competition," Rice said.
"It's a different style of footy and something I'll have to adjust to quickly. "Training so far has been enjoyable, competitive and varied and the staff and playing group have been very accommodating of new blokes."
While Rice has joined Ainslie, fellow Canberra-based Narrandera players Alex Lawder and Cody Kickett have both signed at Queanbeyan.
Glenn Currie and Kurt Masters have hinted at retirement, while Jay Kickett and Mark Rice are yet to make a decision on their playing days.