The Gunnedah Bulldogs first graders face a daunting start to their Group 4 rugby league season, as they face the Moree Boars at the Moree-based Boughton Oval this Saturday.

With the Boars having beaten the Bulldogs 32-16 at Boughton Oval in last year’s grand final, the reigning back-to-back premiers have maintained a similar-looking team while the reigning runners-up have undergone numerous changes.

Sunia Naruma, Netava Naruma, Ezra Gibson, Marcus Hayne, Trent Hilton, Nick White, Isaac Reeves and Tom Randall are unlikely to play for the Bulldogs this year, while Jim Muller is set to return from injury.

The team will still have a familiar-looking contingent featuring the likes of Dylan Lake, Jared Heinrich, Max Turner, McKye Tucknott, Callum Hayne, Sam Taylor, Lincon Smith, Aidan Davis and Wil Patterson, while Ryley Mackay is expected to return in round two following a suspension from late last season.

Bulldogs coach Sean Hayne said numbers had been good at training despite some players having shift work which affected availability.

Hayne said “you’d think” the Boars would be the benchmark again, although he wasn’t familiar with the playing rosters of other clubs.

Hayne said there were “not really” any lessons from last year that could be brought into this year.

“It’s a completely new year, so it doesn’t matter what happened last year,” he said.

“Everyone starts off fresh.”

Hayne said the Bulldogs needed to do the basic things right, and keep themselves in the game.

“It’s a simple game when you break it down, but it doesn’t always work out that way,” he said.

“If you do the simple things right, control the ball and control the ruck speed, at least you allow yourself to be in the game.

“(You need to) cut out the mistakes and be disciplined.”

Although the Bulldogs haven’t had any trial matches while the Boars have, Hayne said this wasn’t really a concern.

“It doesn’t matter too much. Most of the guys have played together before, so they know each other’s roles and how they play,” he said.

Meanwhile the Boars have welcomed back Jock Brazel, who played for the Parramatta Eels in the Jersey Flegg Cup.

With the Boars chasing three straight premierships, Jack Durheim will coach the team this year after sharing the responsibility with Jamie Simpson last year.

Gunnedah and Moree are also scheduled to face off in the reserve grade, U18 and women’s tackle divisions this Saturday, with Gunnedah not fielding a leaguetag team due to the focus on women’s tackle.