Ag College have received a big boost with Oscar Sykes moving to the club.
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The big second rower will add plenty of size and strength to the forward pack at the university club following a stint with Wagga City.
Aggies coach Will Mitchell is excited to have him on board.
The premiership-winning mentor expects he will make a big impact.
“He’s going to add a lot of size and mongrel to our forward pack which Aggies have probably lacked over the last couple of years,” Mitchell said.
“We’re looking forward to having him.
“The boys like him so it should be a good fit for him.”
The 22-year-old links with a couple of former schoolmates including Aggies captain Cam Duffy.
He said it was one of the biggest reasons behind the change.
Sykes has been part of Wagga City’s finals campaigns in the last two season.
While expecting to return to the Boiled Lollies in the future, he’s looking forward to the opportunity with Ag College.
“City have been very accommodating to me but I felt this was my last real chance to play footy with those blokes (from school),” Sykes said.
“I have no doubt I will go back to City when I a bit older.”
Despite having some more big game experience, Mitchell believes his work in the scrum will be his biggest asset to the club.
“He will be more of our more experienced footballers as far as in this zone goes,” Mitchell said.
“Our scrum has been one of our biggest problems, we just can’t seem to hold up our own scrum so we will be focusing hard on our scrummaging technique.”
Mitchell is hoping to secure some more fresh talent with the influx of new students at CSU.
Sykes is part of a growing list of players who have left Wagga City since last season.
Representative playmaker Jayden Stanton has moved to Canberra while winger Vili Cavuca has also left town.
With Monson Tuivale and Keifer Power showing an interest at Group Nine club Brothers, while James Curgenven has shifted codes again and has joined Gundagai.
Doubts also remain over star halfback Stuart Dyer while Rory Sheard is trying to sort some visa issues.
The club also has a new coaching structure with Adam Parker in as head coach but Scott Callaghan will be the first grade coach.
Meanwhile the Southern Inland draw is expected to be finalised on Monday night following a board meeting.
There is an option to extend the season by two weeks.