Group Six has confirmed the draw for the 2016 season with local derbies to kick off another premiership challenge.
The draw was confirmed following discussions with club officials, just weeks after the successful 2015 grand final at Campbelltown Stadium won by the Picton Magpies.
Ten teams are again preparing for the new season, with all of them currently finalising coaching positions for 2016 in all grades at present.
The opening round will be held after the Easter long weekend, with matches to be played on the weekend of April 2 and 3, with derbies to be held throughout the Group.
Narellan will host fierce rivals and runners up from 2015 Camden to Crane Oval, while The Oaks will make the short trip west to Sid Sharpe Oval for a meeting with Oakdale Workers.
Reigning premiers Picton will also begin their season on the road, when they face neighbours Thirlmere at Thirlmere Sportsground, with the Magpies to defend their title again.
Campbelltown City will host Appin in another local derby, while Moss Vale heads up the Highway to meet Mittagong at Mittagong Sportsground in the final match of the opening round.
The teams will have a break over the Anzac Day weekend, but will continue with football on the June long weekend, in a change to the traditional schedule to the season.
The final break for all teams will be in early July, with five rounds to be played before the finals commence in mid August.
Group Six Rugby League media officer Mike Shean says the new season is already shaping up as an exciting one with many clubs appearing to be in contention for 2016.
“Picton will arguably be the team to beat, but teams like Camden, The Oaks, who were very impressive late in the season, Mittagong and Narellan, will all be knocking on the door,” Shean says
[social_quote duplicate=”no” align=”default”]“However, the clubs who finished down the ladder last season will be keen to improve, and there’s not much of a gap between teams likes Thirlmere, Campbelltown City, Oakdale, Moss Vale and Appin and the rest.[/social_quote]
“The season will be exciting, with a high quality of football seen throughout the Group every weekend, as all 10 teams battle for the first grade premiership again in 2016.’’
Group Six will shortly release full details of the 2016 pre season schedule of matches.
