The reigning Weissel Medal winner was looking forward to the chance to test himself out of Group Nine, and while the 26-year-old enjoyed his initial time with the Canberra Raiders Cup club, the impact of the coronavirus crisis has seen the crafty hooker elect to stay closer to home.

"It was taking me two and half hours to get to training and I was doing that once a week but now back home I'll be able to train twice and I'm only five minutes from training," Luff said.

"It is going to be so much easier."

Luff is excited about the line up the Tigers will have if the season gets under way.

Especially after Dane O'Hehir returned home from England because of the pandemic.

"We were pretty disappointed with out efforts last year after getting the minor premiership wrapped up and then bowing out in the two straight semis," Luff said.

"It wasn't a good way to end and I think we had the team there that could have done it but we're just going to have the build on that this year.

"We've got a lot of youth but a lot of experience as well and hopefully we will be there in the back end of the year."

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Luff became just the fourth player to win a second Weissel Medal last year.

Only Harden's John Shea (four) has won more and it's a target the 26-year-old has set himself.

"It would always be nice and hopefully I can get a bit of fitness going into the season," Luff said.

"It's something I always push for and there is only three blokes who have won two and only who have won more than two so I'd love to get another win - it would be fantastic - but it would be a big effort and I'll have to see how the old legs hold up."

However getting the Tigers back on top is a bigger priority.

Luff is also confident he will now see out his playing days out at his junior club.

"It was probably the only real opportunity I was going to get and that was why I wanted to do it in the first place," he said. "I think that horse has bolted and I think I'll stay with Gundagai until I finish my career.

"It was a one-off opportunity and I gave it a little bit of a crack but it's just unfortunate with the circumstances as I would have loved to had have a year away to see a competition.

"But we've got a great team on paper and if footy gets back this year I think we could have a real crack at it."

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