New Bulldogs first grade coach Dean Oxley plans to use Mobbs in the second row and if his pre-season thus far is anything to go by, it could be a masterstroke.

In the Bulldogs’ first trial of the season against Wollongong University, Mobbs helped his side to a commanding victory. He has also lined up in the second row for the Central West Blue Bulls representative squad.

“He scored two tries from that position [in the trial] and played quite strongly. He is one of the tallest guys at the club and is a very good basketballer, he has very good aerial skills,” Oxley said.

“There were a lot of eyes on him in regards if he was going to be successful, some of the old hard heads. But he was very good, damaging is what he is always going to be in attack and he’s quite valuable in the line-out.

“It was a really obviously decision, but it was something he hadn’t thought of. He’s committed to that change after the grand final last year around October, and started working on that transition to a different position.

“That has proved to be very successful.”

Mobbs’ move from second grade custodian to first grade second rower is not the only change Oxley has made in preparation for the new Blowes Clothing Cup season.

“The game has changed a lot and honestly, besides the set piece, the scrums and the line-out, the rest is just a whole bunch of footballers playing football as far as I’m concerned,” he said.

“So that’s the plan, we are going to try and educate them around that and get them to see what they need to do differently and have some fun in the same process.

“They know they are going to receive the passes, because that’s what the plan is, to move the ball to space. People are chasing the ball and putting themselves in space whereas before they would watch the play and just play hard up the middle.”

Bulldogs will host Barker Old Boys this weekend for a colts and a grade trial to cap off their pre-season preparations.