In a Christmas bonus of sorts, the brothers join the club from rivals Kangaroos as the Brethren look to improve on their third place showing in 2019.

Assistant coach Joel Berrigan believes they will be a good addition to the club who are looking to promote their local juniors.

“We’ve given them the opportunity and they definitely want it,” Berrigan said.

The arrival of the young halves it leaves Brothers a number of options in their halves.

Depth their was a problem late in the season with so many injuries, as new coach Peter Little and halfback Cameron Breust both missed the end of the season.

Breust is expected to return to the club following ankle surgery, and Berrigan is confident the club can handle the juggling act.

“I don’t think Peter is a natural half and you’ve always seen him play his best footy in centre,” he said.

“We don’t know if that is the way we are going to go as we have Jackson Newling there and Macca (Ethan Mackenzie).

“They will be a bit of reshuffling but we definitely have a plan.”

Brothers looked to have retained the bulk of the team who were knocked out on the running by eventual premiers Gundagai in the preliminary final.

Only centre Ed Ansell, who has moved to Wollongong and linked with Collegians, has left.

Berrigan believes the club is in a good position to have a crack at their first Group Nine title since 1995.

“We definitely think we are contention this year,” he said.

“There is a lot of confidence in the boys and success draws players.

“They want to play to win, they don’t want to just play for money, and we’re starting to get that flow through now.”

The switch is another blow for Kangaroos.

They’ve already lost former coach Ben Jeffery, who has returned to Albury after Kangaroos decided to go in another direction.

Tristan Dickson has also returned to Junee.

With the McLachlan gone it leaves plenty holes for new captain-coach Glenn Dumbrell to fill after the club missed out on a finals position in 2018.

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