A coach with State of Origin experience, two new front rowers and a fresh start has Junee buzzing months out from the start of the Group Nine season.
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With Dane Nielsen on board as captain-coach, president Simon Vanzanten is excited for what lies ahead.
However two new props are also a welcome addition to the Diesels ranks.
Junee have snared Isaac Maliota and Pene Tamate.
Size has not been one of the clubs strengths, but Vanzanten believes the new faces can help turn to club into a competitive force once more.
“We thought we could have been competitive if we had enough players on the field but now this kick starts everything back along,” Vanzanten said.
Maliota is no stranger to Group Nine.
He played with Young in 2015 although the Diesels are looking to make more of his stay.
The New Zealander’s arrival was delayed due to his commitments to Limoux Grizzlies in the Elite One Championship in France.
He then missed a month of football when he returned home but did link back with the club late in the season.
Maliota is a former junior Kiwis representative, was named the Sydney Roosters’ National Youth Competition Player of the Year winner in 2009 and played with Papanui Tigers in the Canterbury competition last year.
He played alongside former Diesels coach Matt Hands in the Roosters junior ranks.
Hands believes he will be a great addition.
“He’s a great fella and very easy going so I think he will fit into the place nicely,” Hands said.
“It’s always nice to catch up the blokes you played with let alone get another chance to play footy with them again.
“He is back reasonably fit and is a pretty promising footballer when he is fit.”
Samoan forward Tamate has Queensland Cup links with Ipswich Jets.
The big bodies are just what the club needs.
“It will be nice as they is what we have needed,” Hands said. “We haven’t had a pair of big front rowers for a long time so hopefully all goes well.”
Hands has signed on as a player while star fullback Daniel Foley has recommitted to the club as well.
Vanzanten believes they are a good basis for the club to rise up the ladder once more.
“We have some good attacking players in Trent Schubach, Daniel Foley and Matt and with some strike power out wide, Dane and a couple props we think we should be very competitive,” he said.
Vanzanten isn’t sure where Nielsen will play with centre and five-eighth the leading options.
He said it would depend on what best suits the most.
