Robbie Byatt will return to the Group Nine coaching scene with Albury.
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The former Tumbarumba leader has taken the reins at the Thunder, after linking with the club four years ago.
Byatt was captain-coach of his hometown club for two seasons before they withdrew from the competition.
He linked with the Thunder in 2018 and feels the time is right to get back into coaching.
"It should be good, it will be a bit of a challenge but I'm looking forward to it," Byatt said.
"Hopefully we can get a whole year."
He also has experience with Shellharbour, Queanbeyan Kangaroos, where he won a premiership, as well as in the United Kingdom.
Outgoing president Rick O'Connell believes his experience will be a big boost for the club.
"Robbie's coached before and he's got a wealth of experience at a number of clubs," O'Connell told The Border Mail.
"He's been an exceptional player for us and has tremendous enthusiasm for the game."
The 31-year-old replaces former NRL player Adrian Purtell, who was diagnosed with stage two Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma earlier this season.
Tough forward Jon Huggett will be Byatt's assistant.
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Byatt is hopeful of being able to bring in some more experience to the club, after they managed just the three wins in a season interrupted by COVID.
"Last year it was hard to get players with everything going on but hopefully this time around we can recruit a few new older heads to go with the young fellas that we've got." he said.
"Then we can make ourselves a top-four chance again."
However he doesn't expect Englishmen Joe Lumb and Brad Hill to line up with the Thunder in 2022.
Meanwhile, O'Connell has confirmed he will stand down at next Friday's annual general meeting.
The club stalwart, joined the committee in 2004 and has been the president since 2006.
"I am stepping down, you need an influx of new enthusiasm and new ideas all the time," he said.