Terrific return for reserves

The Tenterfield Tigers reserve grade side returned to the resurrected competition in triumphant form this year. They finished at the top of the table - bringing home the minor premiership in the reserve league’s first year back in action - and came close to snatching the major in a hard-fought grand final.

With the reserve grade competition set to return to the Border Rugby League after its successes this year, Tigers coach Wayne Minns said he and the team are already looking towards next year and looking to snag the major in season 2010.

“We’ve got more young players looking to sign up and there is talks that some older players want to rejoin and play a couple more seasons in the reserve grade. We’re hoping to go one better next year,” Wayne said.

The Tigers’ loss away from home against Killarney in the grand final still stings for Wayne, but two weeks on he can see the positives of the match.

“Like any coach, I do feel it on the day,” he said. “But looking back on it now, the players did all I asked of them and they were definitely in the race 10 minutes before full-time.”

Wayne said the team put in a strong show in the final, but in the end the Tigers had run out of legs and fell behind the pace of the game. He said he thought the team would gain more depth for the season next year as more players signed up and that, he said, was a good thing for both the club and the league.

“The reserve grade was a must for the Border Rugby League to really stay alive. It’s drawn some older players back and it is nurturing younger players for the A grade competition, and if we don’t look after those players they’ll look to play elsewhere,” he said.

For some it would draw mixed feelings to see a young player advance into the A grade and farewell the reserves - the A grade’s gain of a player means the loss of a good footballer in the reserves. But for Wayne, seeing one of his team move up is a proud moment.

“That’s what our role is: nurturing the young players and getting them ready for the A grade. If they are playing well enough, they will move up. And there is a few reserve players knocking on the door for first grade positions,” he said.

For Wayne, 2010 looks like it will be a good season for the Tenterfield Tigers. He said he was proud of the commitment from players, sponsors and supporters.

“We’d struggle without the sponsors or the supporters. It’s a big thing for everyone to support us all year and make the boys feel proud.”