Diehards are prepping for 2020 season

With the 2020 TRL season fast approaching, the Dalby Diehards will be heading into their pre-season training from next week.

Steven Franciscus, pictured at the TRL Premiership round three last year, will be taking on the roll of assistant coach.

RUGBY LEAGUE: With the 2020 TRL season fast approaching, the Dalby Diehards will be heading into their pre-season training from next week.

A-grade player Steve Franciscus is one of many ready to hit the field again this year, but the 2020 season will also bring a new challenge – coaching.

Franciscus will be taking the position of assistant coach alongside A-grade coach Kerry Charmichael.

This year’s season will be Franciscus’ fourth with the Diehards after moving to the region from Brisbane.

“I’m just looking forward to help coaching the boys along with Terry,” he said.

“I’ll be playing as well, I’m 38 this year so I think … this might be my last year, I’m not sure yet but … I’m looking forward to a new challenge.”

Franciscus said he is looking forward to helping some of the younger players coming through.

“I really like these young players coming up and having a go,” he said.

“They’ve still got a lot to learn but they’re willing to learn.

“We’ve just got to harness their potential and we’ll go a long way in the competition this year I reckon.”

The dual role of player and coach will give Franciscus a different perspective as he takes on the new role.

“I know this team now inside and out … just like weaknesses and so we’ve got to fix up a few things.
“From a players point of view, being on the field and knowing what’s going wrong at the time I think is going to help.”

As far as training plans for the new season go, Franciscus said the Diehards needed to sharpen their skill set.

“We’ve just got to sharpen our skill set and do a lot more things under fatigue,” he said.

“That’s all it is – we’re not going to reinvent the wheel, just going to strip back to basics, and try to make us compete as well as we can.”

As always, defeating the top teams in the competition will be a goal for the Diehards throughout the season.

“Warwick and Valley, the Wattles, the regular top four guys, I know Highfields will be a good challenge this year,” he said.

“But all in all, if we train right and we’re injury free I really think we’re going to give this comp a good shake.”

Pre season kicks off on Tuesday for the Dalby teams.

“We wanted to start a bit later because we don’t have a bye, this is because Newtown came into the competition so we’re going to have to play week-in, week-out football sixteen rounds.
“Hopefully we can get fitter at the back end of the season.”

For anyone interested in becoming involved in the club, either as a player of volunteer, Franciscus said to just come down.

“It’s a good club … it’s family orientated, I just can’t speak more highly about Dalby. Come down and watch one of our games,” he said.

For updates on the Dalby Diehards 2020 season or for more information about the club follow them on Facebook at Dalby Diehards Rugby League Football Club or visit their website www.dalbyleaguesclub.com.au/dalby-diehards.

Originally published as