By Tallon Smith

After an extended period of recess last decade, the Eden Tigers are fast establishing themselves as a rugby league powerhouse on the Sapphire Coast after a strong start to the 2023 Group 16 Rugby League season.

The club, who recently signed former New South Wales and joint Australian and Italian national representative Terry Campese, have begun the season in red hot form, with successive victories over the Narooma Devils and Cooma Stallions seeing the team equal first on the table with fellow competition heavyweights Tathra Sea Eagles and Snowy River Bears.

Despite being favourites to take out the title in 2023, club captain and former NRL star Adrian Purtell gave a more modest assessment, saying the Tigers have had an “okay start to the season.”

“[We’ve been] a little inconsistent with our performances, which can be expected with the new players and no trials,” he said.

“We have had a big focus on defence over the pre-season, however the weekend’s performance shows it is still an area we need to work on.”

“We’re looking to improve over the coming weeks.”

After cruising to a 50 points to 6 victory over a depleted Narooma Devils team in Round 1, the club was pushed all the way in Round 2, clinging on for a 34-30 win against a resurgent Cooma Stallions side, returning from recess in 2022.

Speaking further on the club’s start to the season, Purtell said “the challenge is ensuring [they] turn up ready to play each game.”

“Every team has flat spots but we want to make sure each game we are at our best,” he said.

Although much has been made of the recent raids on competition talent by the AFL, Purtell said that Group 16’s future is looking “positive”.

“At the moment Group 16 has every club in First Grade which is a positive,” he said.

“There are only three [later increased to 5] Under 18s teams though which isn’t as healthy.”

“It should be a challenging competition with a number of teams who can win it.”

Overall, the Tigers’ skipper has his sights firmly fixed on the club’s goals for 2023.

“The performance goal is always to win the competition, which I assume the other nine teams are working for,” he said.

“On top of a successful season on the field we want to provide some excitement for the town and help promote the game of rugby league.”

The Tigers will face last year’s Minor Premiers Bombala Blue Heelers at home this weekend, before a date with arch rivals Merimbula-Pambula next weekend.