Eagles team to beat…again

ALBION Park-Oak Flats are the team to beat and Warilla-Lake South is looming as the big improvers " that's the tip on the eve of the South Coast rugby league season.

The Lake Times contacted coaches from all nine South Coast league clubs " Albion Park's Shane Sainsbury, Batemans Bay coach Matt Schubert, Berry mentor Trent Burns, Gerringong's Allan Miller, Kiama coach Tony Myers, Milton's Greg Sherwin, Nowra's Mark Berry, Shellharbour's Peter Ellis and new Warilla-Lake South coach Josh Guyatt to get their tips for the upcoming season.

The Gorillas, who face Kiama at Kiama Showground in the season opener, are rated by rival coaches as the team to improve in 2007.

Improving on their dismal 2006 campaign won't be hard " the Gorillas could only win one match last year.

This year Warilla are expected to perform much better under new coach, former Collegians star, Josh Guyatt.

The Gorillas have produced some impressive trial form in the lead-up to 2007 and retooled with some handy players.

"We'll be alright " we have had some good preseason form but that means nothing," Guyatt said.

"Our first game is going to be hard, Kiama are always tough at home.

"We have had a couple of lean years but we're confident within ourselves that we're going to compete this year.

Rival South Coast Rugby league coaches unanimously named defending premiers Albion Park-Oak Flats as the team to beat when the 2007 South Coast rugby league season kicks off this weekend.

Eagles' coach Shane Sainsbury is reserved about his side's prospects in 2007, despite having all but two of (Ian Jones and Cole Skelly) of the 2006 premiership squad back in 2007.

"We're just going to take each game as it comes," Sainsbury said.

"I think we have a side that has the ability to do the hard work.

"We're pretty good at keeping our feet on the ground, we don't have any big heads at the club.

"We just want ease into the season and see what happens in a couple of weeks."

The Eagles face Shellharbour City in a blockbuster grand final replay at Centenary Field on Saturday.

"I'm sure they will treat this game like any other," Sainsbury said.

"It's going to be a big day and we'll be ready to go."

Sharks' coach Peter Ellis said his squad carry few scars from last season's grand final defeat.

"It's a big game but the grand final won't be in the guys' heads," he said.

"Albion Park-Oak Flats have the same side and we have a different one altogether.

"It doesn't matter if the game is in round one or not everyone wants to beat the defending premiers."