Bathurst Panthers will enter a brand new era of rugby league in the Western region with a new face leading first grade.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Jake Betts has been officially announced as Panthers new captain-coach, in the lead up to the new Western-wide Peter McDonald Premiership.
Betts takes over in the coaching ranks from Doug Hewitt, who had lead Panthers since the 2018 season, leading the Bathurst club to consecutive Group 10 premier league premierships before the outbreak of COVID-19.
With Hewitt having guided Panthers to grand finals in 2018 and 2019 in his time as coach, Betts knows it'll be a tough act to follow.
"I'm looking forward to it. It'll be something different," he said.
"It's a hard act to follow but I think we'll be alright. We've got a good group of fellas here, so providing everything goes alright, there's no reason why we can't be there at the pointy end of the season."
Hewitt is still expected to play for Panthers in 2022, but Betts said he wanted to step back from coaching and just focus on playing rugby league.
Betts is no stranger to the club, the 26-year-old having spent a majority of his life wearing a Panthers jersey, having first played for the club as a 10-year-old.
He's also looking forward to next year's new challenge of the Peter McDonald Premiership, which will feature 13 teams from across Group 10 and Group 11.
The new coach thinks it's an "exciting" prospect and believes it's the way forward for rugby league in the region.
"Obviously there's a few things that need to be tweaked but the way it was last year with the amount of clubs we had in the comp, they had to do something," he said.
"Going forward, it might be a bit hard to start with but I think it'll be the right thing."
The six Group 11 teams are Dubbo duo CYMS and Macquarie, Forbes Magpies, Wellington Cowboys, Parkes Spacemen and Nyngan Tigers.
Betts said he doesn't know much about the Group 11 clubs but believes they'll make for good competition.
"I know a little bit, from talking to other blokes," he said.
"Obviously Dubbo CYMS will be strong, as well as Wellington and Forbes. It'll be a really strong comp.
"It's different footy, but it'll definitely be strong."
A draft draw was announced last week, however, there may still be changes from NSWRL before the final schedule is confirmed.
There will also be an under 18s competition that will feature the same amount of teams.
While Betts has been confirmed as the new first grade coach, Panthers have also announced the rest of its senior coaching staff for 2022.
Ben Gunn will take care of the club's reserve grade side, which will remain in Group 10, while Mick Carter remains in charge of the under 18s.
Jess Hotham will also remain coach of the women's league tag team, as they look to put together an under 18s team for 2022.
