"WHOEVER we play, we'll be ready for them". That's the message from new CSU Rugby League Club president Callum Flanagan.
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Over the past two seasons Flanagan has proven himself to be one of the best hookers in the Mid West League. He won a premiership with the Mungoes in 2019 and last year he captained them to the grand final.
Now the talented rake wants to build on that success as he not only acts as a leader on the field, but off it as well.
"It's a new step as president, it's a beautiful club and we've got a great committee behind us and I've been welcomed in with open arms by the old boys and the blokes who were around. A lot of people are there to give me advice and direction, so I should be able to cruise through it," he said.
"I think we've set the foundations for the future of the club.
"Like you look at the girls and that's six years they have made it to the grand final and they've won it those six years. The boys have been in the last four grand finals and won one, so we've got high expectations coming into this year."
As Flanagan mentioned, the Mungals have won six consecutive Mid West league tag crowns. Their dominant run means no other club has experienced title success since the competition introduced that premiership.
While not being able to get the better of Oberon in the Mid West Cup grand final, the Mungoes going down 23-10, Flanagan pointed out that CSU still played plenty of quality football in 2020.
It gives him confidence that the Mungoes and Mungals can be title contenders once again.
"We're expecting it to be a fierce competition, but the position the club is in now, we're well and truly up for it," he said.
"We have been written off a little bit because we play in a lower comp, they think we're a muck around uni team, but last year we showed we are a serious team that can put together a high level, quality game out on the pitch.
"We beat Oberon on their home ground, we beat them at Oberon to get a home grand final. So we showed that we are more than capable of playing at a high level and the girls, you can say that about them every year.
"Whoever we play, we'll be ready for them and give them a run for their money."
While the experienced Pat McGarry won't line up for the Mungoes this season and fullback Braydon Wicks is not yet a confirmed returner, a bulk of the 2020 squad will line up again.
Flanagan is also hopeful of retaining Rhys Power as coach of the men's outfit and is hoping to have enough interest from female players to field twin league tag outfits, as was the case for the club prior to the COVID-19 pandemic.
"The uni students we had last year are sticking around and we had a couple of townies come join us and I know a few of them are coming back, Fin Grabham is coming back," Flanagan said.
"I'm pretty sure we will still have that core from last year, there are a couple of players we're not sure about, but we'll still have a good side. A lot of guys have said that they are in for the long haul."
