GUNDAGAI captain-coach Cameron Woo has not lost hope that powerful back rower representative Brett Eccleston will play for the Tigers in the Group Nine premiership starting on Saturday week.
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Despite Eccleston having applied for a clearance to join Sydney club Bondi United, Woo is adamant it is premature to write off the star forward from the Tigers list.
“He (Eccleston) won’t play round one, but there’s still a chance he’ll be here this season,” Woo said on Monday.
“He’s already been to a few training sessions in the last month or so.”
Eccleston lives and works in Sydney and commuted to Gundagai to play for the Tigers in 2014.
“Brett was travelling down to play last year and he might do the same this year,” Woo said.
“There’s nothing definite yet either way.”
Uncertainty over Eccleston’s football plans centre on his application for a clearance from Gundagai to switch to Bondi United, which plays in the Eastern Suburbs domestic competition.
As the Tigers wait for confirmation that Eccleston will continue to play for his hometown club, the Tigers are resigned to gun playmaker James Smart not lining up this season.
Woo said Smart, who lives and works in Wollongong, had indicated he would have a “year off”, joining Kiwi enforcer Rulon Nutira as a major loss for the Tigers.
On the plus side, however, Woo reported Gundagai had a lengthy list of key recruits, headlined by Blake Dunn, Naseri Naseri and Maika Sivo, a Fijian outside back with a first-class pedigree.
“He’s (Sivo) played under-20 rugby union for Fiji and looks impressive,” Wood said.
In addition, prop Keiran Pearce has aborted a move to the south coast and will be in the Tigers pack this year.
Fresh from thrashing Canberra-club Woden Valley 56-22 in a trial on March 22, the Tigers will open the Group Nine premiership against Temora at Nixon Park on April 12.
Meantime, Junee’s impressive build-up to the Group Nine premiership has continued.
Coming off excellent efforts at the West Wyalong Knockout and the Cootamundra Nines tournament, Junee beat Tumut 14-6 in a trial at Laurie Daley Oval on Sunday.
New Blues captain-coach Arana Taumata has given the team a big boost, with expectations of a place In in the finals.
Tumut host Southcity in round one on Saturday week.
