Tamworth women's 7s coach Blake Hamilton believes the Magpies are probably in the strongest position they have been in their three years as they prepare for the New England season kick-off later this month.
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Hamilton has coached the women's side since their inception, but has this season found himself in a bit of an unfamiliar situation.
Usually scratching around for players, it is very much the opposite story.
Thanks to an influx of players their numbers have swelled to probably double what they have been the last couple of years.
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"We're almost in the situation now where our ranks are very much full and anybody who's coming along will for the first time have to be faced with a tryout situation almost," Hamilton said.
He said the new recruits, most of which have come from Central North clubs with the competition not going ahead this season (they have also picked up a few junior rep players and players from other sports), have added a lot to the side.
"The girls who have come and shown up and put in the effort are really changing the dynamics of the whole situation to raise the standard, which is really good," he said.
The women's team were the first in the club to return to training after they were given the green light, and from there he said it has "just been strength to strength".
"I'm really happy with the way that we're starting and it's probably one of the strongest teams that the club's ever had," he said.
He isn't though "getting ahead" of himself until he can see what they're up against, tipping the quality to be "good across the board".
Glen Innes have come back in, and will be bolstered by a few players from Inverell. Pirates are also joining forces with Walcha.
The biggest challenge for them with so many new faces coming from so many different set-ups will be building that cohesion on the field.
"There's a really big focus on building familiarity with the new players," Hamilton said.
But all of them are motivated and "none of them are bringing any stigma or baggage that 'I normally play for this other team'": they're all "just coming to play and be involved".
Back now training for over a month he said the players are counting down until they can run out for a game. They don't have long to wait now, with a trial game against the Dubbo Kangaroos on Saturday.
