The start to the year hasn’t been all roses for the clubs men’s side with a raft of players departing or defecting.

Tiger’s club president Brendan Minns said things are beginning to take shape though.

Things are so promising that he’s even confident of fielding an under 18’s side in a mooted new competition for the up and comers.

“At this stage it’s all looking good – we’re pretty much going to be a new side this year though,” Minns said.

“We’ve had quite a few 18’s guys come along to training.”

The possibility of having a three team under 18’s comp was a positive sign for Minns who believes it will give juniors a path into the senior ranks.

“Clubs have been struggling a bit, there’s not that influx of juniors coming through. There hasn’t been that progression from 16’s to 18’s through to the A-grade,” he said.

With Texas pulling the pin on their Border Rugby League involvement last week, Minns said they’re having to contend with the prospect of dropping to a four team competition.

Millmerran’s touted move into the BRL fell by the way-side and now the news Texas won’t partake has heaped pressure on the league’s committee.

“They tried to get it going but unfortunately couldn’t get numbers – I don’t think people are real happy,” Brendan said.

In their own camp, the Tigers have had to face up to the reality of losing a number of prospective players to Wallangarra and Stanthorpe.

Minns said that has forced him into seeking some new bodies to throw on the black and yellow in 2015.

“We’ve lost quite a few but added some experience and a few older faces – I think at this stage everything is pretty positive.

“We’ll have a fair contingent of guys coming from away to play though,” he said.

A preseason game against Warwick Cowboys reserve side in Killarney on February 28 will give the side a strong opportunity to put some rumblings to bed Minns believes.

“We should get a bit of a gage as to where we are at,” he said.

The Tiger’s ladies league tag side will also undergo their first examination as they come up against a freshly-formed Killarney ladies side.

Following that, Tenterfield is likely to host the BRL preseason round robin competition on March 21 before the season gets underway in early April.