Although this season did not see the Raiders in the finals, the team spirit continues as they celebrated at their presentation on Saturday and prepared for another season.

While they are still revelling in the 2014 season win, a loss of team players can be attributed to this year’s downfall.

“We’re still suffering from a 2014 grand final hang over. This year we lost half the team, about five or six players left after they finished their work.  We’ve had to call on ring-ins and even picked up backpackers to play because we had no reserves,” said team player Adam Calcraft.

With a history of 16 years in A Grade and 10 years in the junior comp, the club competes with the sugar and tourism industries for long term team players.  With the juniors coming through the ranks they also drop off to attend university.  However, they have seen four juniors come through the ranks to compete in the A Grade comp.

The junior season kicks off in four weeks with five junior teams in the comp.  Even though ruby union has a history of private school players, state school players are on the rise and working their way through the ranks.

The culture of the club comes down to “big hearts” and “commitment” commented Calcraft.

“With loyal sponsors and a strong and supportive committee we have built our own club house and field play lights all fully self funded,” said President Don Murday.

“We have our own League of Nations, we’ve had players from Mexico, Wales, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea and France, it adds to our national flavour and makes it more social.  Our age range for players on the A Grade side is 50 to 17 years old,” says Murday.

The off season will be big as they plan to recruit for 2016 while the majority of the core players will continue into the new season.  Although they will lose players due to work and study commitments, they always have previous team players returning to the fold.

This years presentation trophy winners:

Best and Fairest - Liam Cowe
Players Player - Liam Cowe
Clubman of the Year - Adam Calcraft
Best Forward - Ryan Bellero
Best Back - Simon Chick
Golden Doctor - Grant Payne
President Award - Grant Payne
Life Member - Stewart Cowe

For further information about sign on please contact Adam Calcraft on 0415 325 016