HE was amongst the try scorers in 2012 when CSU snapped a 37-year premiership drought and now Rhys Power has returned to the Mungoes in search of another milestone season.
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Power is hoping the Mungoes can clinch back-to-back Mid West League premierships for the first time in their club history.
The Cobar native first moved to Bathurst in 2010 and spent around seven seasons in Mungoes colours. He in the main played in the halves, but also lined up as hooker and lock.
One of his highlights during that time was undoubtedly the 2012 grand final win, Power and his CSU Blue team-mates beating the Lithgow Bears 30-10.
This season he returns as a non-playing coach to guide a Mungoes outfit which will - if the suspension of the sport due to the coronavirus pandemic is lifted - start as defending premiers.
But he's not feeling the pressure of trying to guide them to back-to-back crowns.
"I've coached a few years previously, back when I was playing. I coached the year after we won it and that was the year Kandos absolutely destroyed everyone in the competition," he said.
"So I probably felt more pressure that year.
"Callum Flanagan is helping out as well and he's unreal with a lot of boys because he's such good mates with them all. I'm just there as an older head, trying to bring back a bit of culture."
During his playing days with the Mungoes, Power not only did battle against Central West outfits in the Mid West League, but competed in the NSW Tertiary Students competition as well.
He's very clear on which he preferred.
"When I first came to Bathurst I was in the uni comp, I think I played three years in that," he said.
"It wasn't that fun, it was a tough competition, but as soon as we moved to Mid West it was heaps better, just a lot less stressful not having to play against blokes who were fringe first graders in Sydney."
The Mid West League will be different this season to what it was like when Power last played and not just because of the delayed season kick-off due to the coronavirus.
Oberon has returned to competition after time in Group 10 and will be looking to emulate its 2003 Mid West premiership campaign.
Orange United Sports Club are set to make their debut, while Lithgow Shamrocks are pushing for a return to the competition after being disbanded in 2000.
"I think the level of footy is going to be unreal, especially with Oberon, I think they'll be real handy, and the new Orange side look pretty handy as well, Kurty Behan is a bit of a weapon," Power said.
Before rugby league was suspended, Power did get a taste of what his 2020 squad can do as they played in the reserve grade division at the Bathurst Panthers Knockout.
They lost to Orange CYMS, but the coach saw positives.
"It sucks heaps we haven't been able to play since because I was really impressed with the boys in that game," he said.
"I think we threw an intercept with four minutes to go. I think if our back rower ran at inside shoulder not an outside shoulder, it probably would have been a try which would have tied it up at 12-all."