Workies stalwarts Jono and Brendon Van-Veen announced their retirement at the end of 2017, but not without some parting advice. And it looks like the club is going to take it.
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“They will need to buy someone, it’s a simple as that,” Jono said.
“To be competitive in Group 10, you look at all the other sides are buying left, right and centre.
“I know everyone loves a local team to go really well but you need one or two [marquee] players.”
Brendon said the retirement of older players made looking elsewhere imperative. Alongside the Van-Veen brothers, Workies will likely be without their 2017 captain-coach Chris Rhodes who had previously indicated he will be taking a year off the game.
“With the juniors and that struggling it’s hard to get good local teams and quality,” Brendon said.
“I think it shows too with CYMS and Oberon, they probably spent the most money last year and they were in the grand final. To be up the top you need to spend a bit of money.”
Graeme Osborne, who is making a return as coach of the premier league side after moving into junior development in 2016, said he was indeed approaching players outside of Lithgow.
“We highlighted last year that we probably needed some more players for the front row and halves positions. We’re looking for players with that big body, something a bit intimidating up front,” he said.
“You’ve just got to see where your deficiencies may be, and if you can’t get them internally, then you look externally.”
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Mr Osborne said that while the club hadn’t bought external players since 2015, they attempted to last year but could not attract anyone to the premier league team.
“We’re out there discussing now with a few players, we’ve spoken with a front rower, and with a five-eighth, we are just waiting to hear back from them.
“Hopefully, before we start training we should be in a position to confirm signings.”
Mr Osborne said he expected players from the 2016 junior side would continue to provide fresh talent in the premier grade.
“Last year, four of five of them that spent time in premier grade, now what they’ve got to do is get in a position where they are a consistent premier player.
“There’s probably at least six players from that 2016 team I would have no issue playing premier grade.”
He said, however, that no spots on the team were guaranteed.
“Everybody is welcome at this stage. It depends who turns up for training, their attitude and the effort they put in, that will determine if they’ve got a spot in the side.”
Lithgow Workies Wolves’ training begins on January 16 at 6pm, everyone interested in playing is welcome.