First-year Mudgee president Sebastian Flack already pulled off the recruitment coup of the 2019 pre-season by landing ex-NRL half Jack Littlejohn as the club’s new captain-coach but the swag of new faces set to land at Glen Willow this year will give the Dragons their best chance at a top grade premiership since 2016.

Grant Moore (Gymea Gorillas), Casey Burgess (Lakes United), Jayden Brown (Canowindra Tigers), Harry Myers (Ulladulla Bulldogs) and Nick Willson (Canowindra Tigers) are all new to the Mudgee fold, while returning Dragons guns Nick Harvey (Dubbo CYMS), Tom Shearman (Lakes United), Austin Burgess (Lakes United) and Ben Thompson (Gulgong Terriers) give Littlejohn a gluttony of options leading into the new year.

Add the expected return of James O’Kell (injury) and Tim Condon (year off) and depth, clearly, won’t be an issue at Glen Willow this season.

Flack says he’s been on a recruitment war path of sorts since the end of last season and says the beefed up red and white roster adds both plenty of talent and competition for places to his club ahead of the new Group 10 season, kicking off in April.

“There’s a really exciting vibe around the club and especially at training, with so many fresh faces it’s added a level of competitiveness that we were really hoping for as everyone is hungry to impress,” Flack said.

“I think everyone can feel the shift of ‘the club needs me’ mentality, to an ‘I really want to be a part of this’.

“All that energy and excitement has spilled into the supporters, everyone is talking about it and keen to see the squads in action and talking positively about the changes.”

Flack said the benefit of so many new faces would mean the entire club was strong.

Since winning the competition in 2012 at Lithgow, Mudgee’s first division side hasn’t finished above seventh on the ladder, and claimed three-straight wooden spoons in 2013, 2014 and 2015.

Flack stressed first grade quality players would line-up for the Dragons in reserve grade this season.

“We have always struggled with depth ... in the past there’s been a negative attitude around not playing premier division, but Jack will not consider anyone for selection who is not positive towards playing reserve grade, and that’s just how it is,” Flack added.

The new Dragons supremo said the appointment of club legend Mick Reynolds as conditioning trainer will result in all grades improving on fitness, too.

He added, naturally, the whole town as eagerly anticipating Littlejohn’s first game in the red V, but Flack personally said the return of a few home-grown Dragons was on his radar.

Namely Shearman, who played under 20s at Melbourne before playing with Lakes United in the Newcastle competition. He’s had the last two seasons off to complete his university degree in Newcastle.

“Now he is back in the area he feels like he has something to show the club, as he had a horror run of injuries in under 18s,” Flack added.

“He’s big, strong, aggressive and tough - there isn’t anyone keener in the squad to get out there and I can’t wait for him to lead from the front.”