The TEDS squads yesterday had their first hit-out under the new regime against the Newcastle Knights, in Coffs Harbour.
Both 16s and 18s squads made the trip south for a two-day camp, ending with the fixtures against the kids from the Hunter, all in 34-degree heat.
The under-16s went down to the Knights, five tries to two, while the under-18s had a five tries each draw. Due to the match being a trial, no conversions were attempted.
TEDS Manager, Jamie McCormack, was impressed with both sides' effort.
"Our boys have come to the end of a three-month training block and yesterday they were able to put what they've worked on into a match situation," he said.
"Obviously they went down in the match but we probably expected it based on where the Knights are at in their preparation for the year.
"Our boys just completed their first pre-season and actually got across the line a few more times but made the error or were held up.
After what has been an intensive program both before and after Christmas, McCormack is pleased with where the group has got to and is excited about the next training block which will be after their club commitments.
"Everyone wants to play and to be able to take on the Knights in a proper hit-out was good," he added.
"I was pleased with how they performed in what was the first trial of the season.
"We'll now send them back to the 16s Vikings representative program but we'll come back together at the back end of the year for a curtain-raiser match before the final NRL fixture of the season."
The under-18s performed incredibly well which was a pleasing result considering how the Knights have finished in the NSWRL competition in years gone by.
"We played a 70-minute match and were in the lead for 69 of them," McCormack said.
Maybe a little fatigue set in and the Knights were able to score two tries in the final three minutes.
McCormack can see plenty of potential in the group and believes we could see a number of players go on to higher honours in the future.
"I've got no doubt that we've got some boys there that won't be far off training with Garth in the top squad. Trials like this give us a bit of an indication on who could potentially go to that next level.
"The 18s guys will go back to Tweed and Burleigh in the Mal Meninga Cup but we'll continue to do a bit of work throughout the year.
"I think the members and fans should be excited about the future. The TEDS program has come on in leaps and bounds over the past 12 months and the effort put in against a Knights club who are traditionally very strong at this level indicate that we are heading in the direction and not far away from many of the NRL clubs out there."
