LAYING it out on the table, season 2012 was not a particularly happy one for the Burleigh Bears Colts side.
Finishing one spot off the bottom of the ladder the side struggled with a few injuries, inconsistency on the field and attitude issues leaving them with a season record of three wins, 16 losses and one draw.
The new year however has brought a fresh start including a new coach in Robert Campbell who has not shied away from predicting big things from the Gold Coast team this year.
It will be good to start well and well easily eclipse last year, Campbell said. I have massive expectations with this year and we need to perform.
Campbell said his players had worked hard in the preseason on their fitness and with the introduction of new faces to the squad they hoped to improve their performances at all levels this season.
There is a whole lot across the board (that has changed), Campbell explained.
We have new kids in the squad from Keebra Park and Palm Beach Currumbin schools as well as players from the Under 19 side who have stepped up this year.
We also have players from the Mal Meninga Cup to come back, so we should have a strong squad.
We are (also) much better resourced this year.
Last year the coach was doing it all on his own, so that was difficult, but this year I have a lot of staff to help me; we have a strength and conditioning coach, a backs coach and someone who handles all the bits and pieces.
There have been a few things we have focused on in the pre-season the fitness levels have really increased and we have worked on discipline.
While being the first round of the season is usually enough motivation for teams to play well, it is also a local derby with the Bears to meet the Tweed Heads Seagulls on their home turf.
We are looking forward to it being the first round and given it is a local derby I have heard they are pretty high intensity games," the former Brisbane Rugby League player at Wests said.
There is a rivalry there, so I think they will be ready to play.
In another intriguing match up in the Colts competition the 2012 premiership winning Redcliffe Dolphins will play their grand final opponents Wynnum Manly Seagulls at BMD Kougari Oval.
The Dolphins will have a new coach in Brendan Lam with successful coach Troy Lindsay taking a break from the coaching arena.
*Wests Panthers have withdrawn from both the FOGS Cup and FOGS Colts competitions for the 2013 season.
