Group 4: Countdown on to 2022 season kick-off

Games in Gunnedah, Kootingal, Boggabri, Moree and North Tamworth highlight the new season.

"I'm looking forward to it," Psarakis said.

"It's going to be a big year and going to be different with Manilla involved. Great to have Manilla back in first grade but things are still a bit shaky with the under-18s.

"At this stage we are still confirming teams.

"But we are ready and hopefully we'll have it up and running for a full season."

READ ALSO: 'We were strong': North Tamworth Bears take valuable lessons from trial

Last season G4 abandoned their season on the eve of what promised to be a wonderful finals series and Psarakis believes that will carry over into the start of the 2022 season.

Last season's minor premiers, Narrabri, head to Boggabri and a local derby against a home side which nearly upset the Blues at Jubilee Oval last season.

"Be a good test for us," said Boggabri coach Shane Rampling of Saturday's derby.

"Hopefully we will make the home ground advantage count. We were unlucky not to beat them at home last year."

The Roos have a similar squad to last year with the likes of Nic Millar, Willie Urquhart, Josh Trindall, Kyle Capper, Bailey Lennox, Rob Doolan, Isaiah Adams and skipper Matt Gillham all returning.

READ ALSO: Magpies turn focus to Gunnedah after come-from-behind trial win over Cardiff

Rampling also adds young players such as Rhyce Kliendienst and Cameron Kerr to his squad with Fijian flyer Stini Penisoni joining Nick Ryan and Narrabri back Kurt Wallace.

"We've had two good trials," Rampling said.

"But we've also been hit with Covid. I've had and about five or six have had it as well. It's not ideal but hopefully we'll all be over it."

Werris Creek are another travelling side on Saturday when they head to Gunnedah's Kitchener Park for their opening round game against an old foe.

They may well do it without rising young forward Charlie Parsons, who rolled his ankle at training.

"We'll see how we go," Werris Creek captain-coach Cody Tickle said.

"We're pretty much the same side as last year with a few new faces."

READ ALSO: 'They showed some promise': Understrength Boggy start strongly in Rams trial

The new faces are Ronin Hadden, Nathaniel Slater and Bailey Wilson.

Hadden played for the Greater Northern Tigers in the Country Championships, Nathaniel Slater returns to the club from Group 21 and Bailey Wilson is arriving from Pirates (rugby club).

The fact that is it the Gunnedah club's ladies day makes it even more testing for the Magpies.

"These bigger days have bigger atmosphere and you play better," Tickle said.

The Magpies will meet a strengthened Bulldogs with the return of former first grade start Trent Hilton.

He re-joins a club strong in the forwards with KC Edmonds and Greater Northern Tigers prop Lincon Smith.

Smith was one of the best for the Tigers in their semi-final defeat at Grafton whilst Dylan Lake scored one of the most scintillating tries in a big match with a brilliant 90m effort.

Lake and KC Edmonds are co-captains and will lead from the front.

The other Saturday first grade match sets Kootingal and Dungowan against each other at Kootingal.

READ ALSO: 'We didn't fire a shot': Cowboys mentors' blunt assessment of trial

The two were great rivals in the days of the old G4 Second Division and will be playing for the Steve Pepperell Shield.

Kootingal have been preparing well with two trials but have also been hit by COVID, said coach Geoff Sharpe. He will settle on his first-round side at training on Thursday night.

Dungowan go into the new season without young fullback Trent Taylor and talented Kierin Croft.

Taylor was injured in the Tigers semi-final while Croft has a rib injury.

"We'll have a similar side to last year," said co-coach Luke Taylor while believing the arrival of Tex Lagamiri and Ryan Ingram from North Tamworth would be a big bonus.

"It's going to be a young side."

READ ALSO: 'Try for a win': Country North aim to rebound after tough start

"Whatever we throw out the first two rounds we'll improve on. It's pretty exciting, we do have some good young players but we also have some good, older heads like Brett Jarrett, Wilso (Matt Wilson), Fergs (Shaun Ferguson) and Macca (Mark Macaulay)."

Moree have the first grade bye but do host Barraba in second grade, ladies league tag and under-18's at Boughton Oval, Moree.

The fifth and final venue for the first round is Sunday's North Tamworth-Manilla match at Jack Woolaston Oval.

It is Manilla's first game back in the top grade for 20 years and they are keen to make it a successful one under captain-coach Mitch Doring.

They come up against a new-look Bears with new coach Paul Boyce at the helm.

Boyce said the Bears will play a different structure under his coaching this season and representative stars Scott Blanch and Mitch Sheridan are eager to put it into practice.

Our journalists work hard to provide local, up-to-date news to the community. This is how you can continue to access our trusted content: