THERE was significant hype around St Pat's after they managed to bring three of the Oberon Tigers' biggest stars across to the club in November but as coronavirus arrived on our shores it put a dampener on the Group 10 rugby league build up.
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Now, with a start to the season in sight, it might be time to talk about the blue and white.
The Saints only got a small taste of what their new recruits were capable of during a handful of pre-season matches but that pre-season soon turned into an agonising wait.
So much so that one of those Tigers recruits, Jackson Brien, said it will be like having a second pre-season in the same year.
"We've just been doing our own stuff. We can't do too much," he said.
"We had our pre-season and now we have to do it again, really. It doesn't take much to lose the work that you've put in.
"It's going to take us bit of time to get back into things and get ourselves match fit again."
Brien, Blake Fitzpatrick and Abel Lefaoseu's signings gave the Saints a formidable set of options across the backline.
They've had limited opportunity to work together, with the Bathurst Panthers knockout their first limited test as a group.
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Brien said coming across with several teammates helped make the transition to the Saints easier.
"I've really enjoyed it. I'd never really left Oberon before this," he said.
"It's a great feel, with a different sort of vibe and new blokes.
"Coming over with the other guys made it a lot easier. I've obviously knew them and what they're like, so it doesn't feel like you're being thrown in the deep end.
"We had a trip away for the nines comp in Wollongong, which was more of a bonding session, but that was really good. We're all doing our own thing but we're always keeping in touch."
Players across Group 10 were holding out hope that Monday's announcement from NSW Rugby League would have some form of guidance for when training could resume.
Unfortunately for teams the announcement stated that the committee are awaiting more news from the government before they are able to let teams come back to training.
"The NSWRL had expected confirmation from the NSW Government today," Monday's release from NSW Rugby League read.
"We now expect confirmation on final guidelines and a framework to return to play is just days away and ask for you to please remain patient."
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Alexander Grant
Part of the Western Advocate's sports desk in Bathurst.
Part of the Western Advocate's sports desk in Bathurst.
