Group 10 Rugby League: Bathurst Panthers eager to start the season with an ANZAC battle against Pat's

For the regular 2021 Group 10 rugby league season, Hewitt has no doubt in saying the hardest 20 minutes his Panthers will face will be their first.

It is not only because it's a season opener, that they've not played a full Group 10 match in more than a year or that they'll come up against fierce Bathurst rivals St Pat's.

In the main Hewitt expects it to be hard because of the prize both his men and the Saints are playing for - the annual ANZAC Day Rugby League Memorial Trophy.

The Panthers have won the last four editions of the ANZAC match and are intent on making it five in a row.

"It's always our biggest game of the year no matter when it is, whether it's round one or round 10, it wouldn't matter to us. Everyone has got to be up for it, it's probably the hardest bit of footy you'll play the first 20 minutes of this game," Hewitt said

"It can boil over sometimes, that's how much emotion goes into it, but that first 20, it can set the scene for the rest of the year for us.

"But the emotion we take into this game is nothing compared to what they did on ANZAC Day all those years ago."

For a handful of Panthers, Saturday night's match at Jack Arrow Oval will be the first time they have played in the ANZAC memorial.

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But while the emotion of the game will be new to them, Hewitt is confident they will rise to the occasion given the way they have performed for their new club during the pre-season.

Panthers made the semi-finals of the Bathurst Nines, took out their own pre-season knockout with a 24-4 win over Orange CYMS and beat Group 11 outfit Wellington 22-18 in a trial.

"We had the year off last year, so it has been two years pretty much. Our squad is pretty strong and for the blokes that we've lost, we've also gained some new faces and so far our new blokes have really stepped up," Hewitt said.

"Abel [Lefaoseu] is a massive signing, Keelan Bresec from down in Lithgow, he's really impressed me with the way he's come to the club. He just wants to play footy and has been doing great work - you can play him fullback, wing, centre, you could put him in lock if you want."

Kick-off in Saturday's ANZAC memorial at Jack Arrow Oval is set for 6.30pm.

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