For the last couple of months Tamworth breakaway James Bracken has been a bit like a caged tiger - just waiting for the day he can pull on the black and white jersey and get out on the field again.
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At Tamworth Rugby Park on Saturday that long-awaited moment finally arrived with the Magpies taking on the Dubbo Kangaroos in their first hit-out of the season. The Central West outfit were too strong for them, a try on the bell to the home side making the final score 36-17. But after all the uncertainty, and waiting, Bracken said it was just good "to finally get back on the paddock".
He said he was pretty excited all week.
"It's been a while, and when you get to my age you don't have too many years left so it was exciting," he said.
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That excitement was albeit mixed with a few nerves.
"I was a little bit nervous to be honest but after you get on the field it sort of comes back," Bracken said.
It was very much a new-look side that took the field with Bracken one of only three players that were part of last year's first grade squad.
That did show. The timing just wasn't quite there with passes not quite hitting the mark or players not able to link up with the support.
But that will come with more time together and there were some glimmers to offer encouragement as they look to improve on their semi-final finish last season.
"I think our backs have taken a real boost from the inclusion of people like Cleggy (Richard Clegg) and Tex, and Jeremy York but I think we need to build that foundation through the forwards to give them clean ball," Bracken said.
Burke also felt there were some promising signs, despite being "outclassed in most areas of the game" by a well-drilled Roos' outfit.
"We've got some talent it's just a matter of moulding them," he said.
The first time he's seen a lot of the side play, he said the trial has given him "the direction we need".
"The good thing for us is it pointed out many areas of the game that we need to improve on and work on," he said.
"Where we really need to pick up our game is in the forwards, we need to get to the ball a lot quicker and own that space above the ball better."
Another area they need to address as they prepare for their season opener against St Alberts in two weeks is their discipline.
It was something Bracken and Burke both reflected on post-match.
"We weren't disciplined at the ruck, we gave away a lot of penalties," Bracken said.
"But as I say we've got a few fellas that are new to rugby and we're just trying to blow the cobwebs out and get them around the rules."
He wasn't the only one excited for rugby's return with a big crowd coming out to watch the first game played in Tamworth for the season.
Magpies president Mitch Hanlon said it was great to see rugby back. He estimated that across the day they probably would have had over 500 through the gates, the support only reinforcing how much interest there is in the game.
"Considering Covid and some of the wet weather we thought we were going to get we're very happy with the crowd," he said.
