THERE comes a time for every sporting team where potential has to turn into results, and for Bathurst Panthers 2014 is that time.
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On the back of a fourth-placed finish in the 2011 Group 10 competition, the club appointed John Fearnley to steer them into a new era, with a host of young graduates from successful under 18s teams making their way into the top grade over the last two seasons.
That has resulted in plenty of encouraging wins but, ultimately, two fruitless campaigns that have seen them finish eighth and seventh in their last two conquests.
Now is the time for them to deliver, and on paper at least it looks like they will be capable of doing it.
"We've had a great pre-season, we're getting over 50 to some of the sessions and there is a real enthusiasm around the club," Fearnley said.
"In some of our recent years we've probably had about eight or nine genuine first graders on the field at a given time but we've had to cover a lot of gaps. I genuinely believe we've got enough depth and quality across the field now to make the step up into finals football.
"We have matched it with the top sides at times in the last few years, we've beaten CYMS, we led Lithgow 18-0 at one stage last year. We have the quality to do it."
Stepping into the black jersey this year will be Gundagai half Blake Dean who joins Matt Rose and Joey Bugg as play-making options.
The back row is stacked with youth and quality with Blake Seager returning from the Holden Cup to play alongside the likes of Mick Ingwersen, Blake Lawson, and Trent Rose.
Hooker Luke Carpenter is returning from a serious jaw injury last season and will add some real class to the dummy-half role, and the addition of ex-Orange CYMS star Cody Robbins at fullback gives them plenty of strike power.