Three months ago if you had said Group 16 would be anything but another Cooma showcase I might have laughed. 

However, the musings behind the scenes as Group 16 launches this weekend are that the mountain men have lost some of their colossal might and this year will be a more even playing field. 

The Bega Roosters and Merimbula-Pambula Bulldogs are showing early promise that will still be in the top four mix when the season gets to the pointy end. 

Multiple premiership coach Ryan Apps returns to the reins of the Bega Roosters and will have a boost from Bega’s strong under 18s emerging to their grade places. 

The tri-colours also welcome back key characters from those former premiership squads. 

Meanwhile, the Bulldogs have retained a key core of their third-placed outfit from last year that will have returning coach Nathan Heffernan pretty confident heading into round one. 

The club will have the services of gun fullback Kyle Shepherdson, while adding Reuben Smahel to the mix and in-form half Blake Schafer getting some early rep experience. 

At Bombala, the Blue Heelers have lost ace captain-coach Joe Bobbin from the grand finalist roster, but Paul Perkins has a good work ethic and culture around the club as they look to build on Bobbin’s legacy. 

The Blue Heelers have also deepened their reserve of top grade players with some handy pick ups due to the unfortunate fold of the Eden Tigers. 

However there are whispers from within the group and from players that it will be those at the other end of the ladder sparking the competition. 

The Moruya Sharks were never out of the picture in 2017, but didn’t seem to have the presence on the field they had previously. 

Early indications suggest the Sharks are back to similar strength that saw them win the Clayton Cup just two years ago.

Club great Neil Williams will take the helm and the players have welcome back a small swag of returning players and a key half-back signing out of Gundagai. 

The Narooma Devils, too, could be ready to shake up the ladder as the highly regarded front rower Todd Ayers takes over the coaching role with the club. 

Previously the Devils banked on their speed, but – based on the Nines at least – the Narooma outfit appears to boast a bit more size and structure through the middle which earned the Devils a nod from chairman Allan Wilton as a potential roster for finals this year.

Batemans Bay have also welcomed some new inclusions and a new coach, but are still facing concerns at a committee level. 

Group 16 league kicks off on Saturday.