Whether the stop-start Group 10 season goes ahead or not, Orange Hawks will have to push through it without captain-coach Willie Heta after his five-year tenure at the two blues was brought to an end last week.
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Hawks president Mark Johnston confirmed Heta, who first linked with the club in 2017, has stepped down due to a "personal and private matter".
It's a cruel blow for Hawks' premier league side, with Heta's arrival at the club in the 2017 pre-season sparking the club to life and transforming it into a perennial Group 10 contender.
Heta arrived at the club as one of the best halves in bush footy, having helped Albury Thunder to multiple Group 9 premierships and then winning the Newcastle Rugby League crown with Souths in 2016 before linking with Hawks.
The two blues have played in two major semi-finals and two preliminary finals throughout Heta's tenure at Hawks, winning the 2019 minor premiership along the way.
However, a grand final appearance alluded the club throughout that five-year period.
Assistant Bobby Wykamp looks set to shoulder the bulk of the coaching responsibility moving forward, while an Ethan McKellar or Nathan Potts type would be a prime candidate for the captaincy.
As for the vacant position in the halves, Hawks are adept in that area with youngster Ben Blimka one of several men who could fill the role.
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Jake Humphreys
Sports nut at the Central Western Daily.
Sports nut at the Central Western Daily.
