Leeton received a large influx of players to help end their 26-year premiership drought but early indications are most will be sticking around for the 2018 season.
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The Phantoms went through the Southern Inland season undefeated, downing last year’s premiers Waratahs by one point in a thrilling grand final.
Signs look good for another strong season for the club.
Former Fijian international Marika Vunibaka will be at the helm for a second year while Seru Rogo will continue to provide strong support.
At this stage, president Bart Challacombe expects to have a very similar line-up in 2018, but he does believe there will be some changes.
Emori Vueti and Simon Vunilagi remain part of the ACT Brumbies squad for the Australian sevens championship while Joe Ratu was also in strong contention before injuring his knee.
“There is a few Canberra clubs who have been in touch with a few guys looking for them to go there,” Challacombe said.
“I’ve got no doubt there will be two or three guys who end up moving to bigger clubs in Sydney or Canberra which is good for them.
“It would obviously be nice to keep them here the whole time but these guys have potential and deserve to go and test themselves at a higher level.”
Inside centre Noa Rabici, who was named a joint winner of the Bill Castle Medal, is expected to return.
While currently in Fiji, his plans to join the National Rugby Championship were thwarted by a hamstring injury, the same issue that hampered his finals campaign.
The Phantoms believe he will be back.
“Noa is back in Fiji but the other guys are all still here,” Challacombe said.
“He was looking to go up to the Rays but his hamstring was damaged and there is no point going up there injured.
“He is going to put in another season here and look to go from there.”
There are also doubts over whether Adriu Tagilala will stick with rugby union or return to rugby league.
