Branighan was sensationally stood down by the Tigers board in late March but was last week returned to the role of captain-coach after a meeting between the Oberon committee and the former NRL half.

Tigers president Ian Christie-Johnson confirmed the move, saying Branighan, who led the Group 10 All Stars to a 26-24 victory over the Indigenous All Stars at Cowra while stood down by his club, has the full backing of Oberon’s supporters, board and players moving forward.

Understandably keen to put the last fortnight behind him, Branighan’s attention is now firmly on Oberon’s round one clash with the Magpies at Cowra.

It’s a clash last year’s runners-up is expected to win, given the calibre of player in black and gold this winter, but one Branighan knows will be a tough first-up assignment. 

“Obviously I’m back at the helm as captain-coach of the team and that’s what I’m here to do … it’s all systems go,” Branighan said as his side gears up to take on a new-look Cowra side led by 2016 Group 10 player of the year Jeremy Gordon.

“Cowra is a well-coached side. There’s quality players across the park and this year they have that extra strike they probably lacked last season.

“Early on it’s all about discipline and completions and usually the sides that do that best can come out on top.”

Making life somewhat more difficult for the Tigers is the loss of gun rake Luke Carpenter.

The elusive No.9 suffered a season-ending knee injury in the Bathurst Knockout.

Branighan is weighing up his options to fill the void left by Carpenter, while outside backs Nathan Rollinson and Brenton Gibson and forward Travis Gibson are also in the club’s injury ward ahead of round one.

“Carpo’s a massive loss. We’ll have a few positional changes because of that,” Branighan said.

Still, the Tigers middle third of the field will, arguably, be one of the strongest in Group 10.

Ex-NRL prop, Josh Starling and Mickey Hawkings and Tigers products Luke Christie-Johnson and Dave Sellars will be hard to over power this winter.

It’s an area of the Tigers play Branighan is hopeful can lead Oberon to an early season win at Sid Kallas Oval on Sunday.

“That’s a strength of ours at the moment. If those guys can get us over the advantage line we’ll have players that can capatilise on that time and space,” Branighan added.