LAST year Bathurst Bulldogs won three premierships and got within a converted try of making another decider, so when president Phil Newton says his club will be better this season - well rival clubs beware.
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While Bulldogs are yet to start pre-season training for the 2021 Blowes Clothing Cup season - that will begin on February 2 - and squads are far from finalised, Newton is already filled with a sense of optimism.
Many of the 2019 premiership winning first XV have stated their intent to return after opting out of last season's shortened competition.
Newton also hopes some of the rugby league players - who were left without a competition last season due to COVID-19 - may opt to be Bulldogs once more.
"Last year we did a bit of rebuilding and had a lot of regular first graders who opted not to play because of COVID, but a majority of those from what I've told will be back," he said.
"On top of that, those young guys who were pretty much thrown in the deep end last year, they've proved they're more than capable. So we built our depth from last year and will be in a better spot for this season, which is great.
"We'd like to hang onto those league guys from Pat's and Oberon and Panthers too, but we'll see. We're not chasing, that's not they way we do it, but if they stay, if they enjoyed out culture, then great."
Last season Bulldogs, second and third grade sides plus the women's Ferguson Cup outfit all produced grand final day upsets against the Dubbo Kangaroos.
The first XV qualified for the finals as well, going down 26-20 to eventual premiers Orange Emus in a hard-fought sudden-death semi.
That sort of effort across the grades is something Newton is still proud of.
"When you think about it, we were only five yards away from getting the ball over the line to beat Emus, so we had a brilliant year. First grade did better than we thought they would, even though we were inexperienced we were never made to look silly, we were in everything," he said.
"Second grade, the way they defended towards the end of the season, same with third grade they had to work hard to get that - they were both up against bigger and more experienced Dubbo sides and they played some great footy.
"The women's well, you know, there's only one game which counts and that was the last one. Our girls muscled up and played more aggressive than they had all year and Dubbo hadn't had that happen to them."
Bulldogs will begin the new season on April 17 with a blockbuster against Emus at Ashwood Park. Given the first XV did not beat the Orange outfit in three meetings last season, that game shapes as a tantalising clash.
"First up against Emus, it will be a nice way to start the season and gauge where we are at. They're the benchmark, even though we did win the premiership in 2019, they're still the benchmark and seem to continually put it together," Newton said.
That is followed by a trip to Dubbo to face the Kangaroos, with seconds, thirds and the women's games to all be a re-match of 2020 grand finals.
The regular season will feature 15 rounds and after sitting out 2020, the Cowra Eagles will return.
