Despite losing three key players, Kurri Weston’s new skipper Tim Harding is upbeat about the side’s prospects in this season’s Maitland first grade competition.
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Former skipper Michael Heinrich, leading paceman Cameron Bates and star batsman Jack Bennett have all moved to different clubs.
However, the Warriors have welcomed the return of fast bowler Steve Abel, after a season playing with Wine Country in Cessnock first grade, and big hitting all-rounder Daniel Foster who comes across from the Kurri Kookaburras.
Harding said last season’s frustratingly close loss to eventual premiers City United in the semi-final was a driving force for the team.
Kurri Weston fell just two runs short of taking first innings points and a spot in the grand final after dismissing City United’s talent-laden batting line-up for just 123.
“The boys are pretty keen to make up for that. It was a game that got away and still hurts,” Harding said.
“We started last season strongly, but things fell apart after Christmas with four losses in the final rounds before the finals.
“To go down like we did in the semi-final, we feel like we’ve got unfinished business to put right.”
The Warriors have been training for the past two months and are expecting big things from star batsman Jake Gordon who will be available more regularly this season.
Harding had an outstanding season with the bat and ball in 2016-17 after a four-year break from cricket and said he was looking forward to captaining the team this year.
Abel, one of the district’s premier quicks, will open the bowling with either Harding or Alex Seamer, who flourished in first grade time after transferring from Western Suburbs, with Foster a first change option.
Foster impressed with the bat in the Warriors’ trial-match win against Wallsend smashing 40 off just 10 balls.
The Warriors still have plenty of batting depth with Justin Cavanagh, Josh Tuckwell, Simon Marshall and wicketkeeper Tyler Power
“We need to produce as a team, which was our strength last year when we started so well,” Harding said.
“We are not going to be able to rely on one or two players, but if we can all make a contribution when needed we will do well again and really push the title.”
Kurri Weston open their season in a one-day fixture against Eastern Suburbs at Kurri Central on Saturday.
Former Warrior Bennett will bat at No.3 for a bolstered Griffins line-up which will include returning stars Lucas Sargent and Jayden Park after success in Newcastle and Sydney grade competitions.
