A YOUNG Welshman by the name of Scott Meakins is intent on helping lead the Albury-Wodonga Steamers to an elusive Southern Inland Rugby Union championship.
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The loosehead prop, 20, who was named a Wales Regional Player of the Year last year, heads a group of talented international recruits set to bolster the team that lost to Ag College by a point in last year’s decider.
“Winning the title is the whole point of coming,” Meakins said. “I think we’ve got what it takes.”
The Carmarthen, Wales local has made no secret of his desire to dominate in the SIRU.
Coming from a professional competition, Meakins said he was loving the more relaxed environment Down Under.
“The standard here is a lot lower than back home where it’s a lot more serious, but it’s a good group of boys here,” he said. “I’m living the dream.
“There’s warm, sunny weather here and back home it’s snowing and in the minuses.”
While the Steamers have said goodbye to talented half back Ben Walker, they have done well to fill the gap with Meakins and South African scrum half Jannie Newman.
And that’s not all.
New coach Steve Stone, himself from Carmarthen, has his eyes on two more players from Europe to put the cherry on top of his squad.
“We’re looking for another couple of players from Europe but their season hasn’t finished yet,” Stone said. “We’ve got a good, strong squad — just a bit light in the backs.”
Ominously for the rest of the competition, the Blue and Golds have the opposite problem in the forwards.
An abundance of big, strong men will see the team focus its game plan around the likes of Meakin and James “House” Kora.
And while the Border team’s squad looks at least as strong as last season, it has another advantage that could see it clear the final hurdle this year.
The sting from last year’s grand final defeat is still burning strong among both those who were involved with the team and those who are new this season.
Stone said the loss was the driving factor behind captain Nathan Bright pulling on the boots for another year.
“Nathan was going to retire after the grand final last year but he couldn’t live with the one-point loss,” Stone said.
“He’s got it on his agenda to make it right. The loss has been killing him.
“It’s huge motivation.”
Yet the Steamers will most likely be without fellow veteran and kicker Justin Wheatley.
Wheatley won’t play the first half of the season due to personal and professional commitments and is undecided whether he will play at all.
While his experience will be missed, Stone said the team was well equipped to carry on.
“We’ve got a good, strong squad. I think we do have a team that can win,” Stone said.
“With our style of rugby, the forwards will play a huge card, that’s our secret weapon.
“I don’t want to tempt fate, it’s a long project, but we’ll be knocking on the door.”