Todd Barrow's main focus in returning to Molong to coach remains giving the town's youth an avenue to play their rugby league in blue and white.
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But in 2020 - likely the former NSW Country gun's last year of coaching, and playing - the experienced mentor says there's no reason the club can't build on its stunning return-Woodbridge Cup campaign and push for a title.
Molong surprised many to feature in the Cup's top three for just about the whole of the 2019 regular season.
The club felt the pinch of injury in the finals though, and bowed out in straight sets via losses to Manildra and then Grenfell.
... last season was a pretty big learning curve, but we'll keep building.
- Bulls coach Todd Barrow
Barrow, though, is confident with improved depth, a sterner defence on top of the very obvious focus on youth and Molong can again be a force in Western's small-town premiership race.
"We've got a few young fellas in the team ... there's probably only a handful of us getting on. Most of the side has a lot of good footy in front of them," Barrow said.
"It's just good to have footy in town again. It's important the boys here don't have to travel to play.
"The main thing for us is getting a team of local boys out there every week. That's all we're worried about. And if we can do that then the support will only continue to grow from within the town.
"The committee here did a great job last year getting us back and last season was a pretty big learning curve, but we'll keep building. That's the plan."
Barrow has enjoyed a long, top grade career in the bush and first coached at Orange Hawks in 2011, where he was at the helm for two years.
He returned to the coaching position at Bathurst Panthers in 2015 and enjoyed three strong campaigns at Carrington Park before being forced to retire at the start of 2018.
He returned to Molong, however, the chance to help his junior club return to the Woodbridge Cup a chance too good to knock back.
With his youngest brothers Jye and Kade leading the way on field, Barrow says the club is in good hands, regardless of what happens in 2020.
"I think this will probably pull me up after this year. It was always the plan to do a couple and get the club off the ground," he said.
"We got through the general season pretty well last year and injuries in the semis hurt us ... but first year back I couldn't ask for more from the players."
Barrow said the club looks set to add Kaleb Weekes and Blake Hutchinson to its roster in 2020, and any other Molong boys keen to play for the Bulls would be welcome with open arms.
The club's pre-season training kicked off last week and the Bulls mentor said defence would be a focus.
"If you're a good defensive team you'll do well in Woodbridge Cup, generally. All teams can score points. It's free flowing. So if we can tighen up the middle we'll go from there," Barrow said.
Damo Johnston will mentor the youth league side while Lenny Punch and Karla Pearson will look after the ladies league tag.
