THE Port Macquarie Sharks' last year in Group 2 rugby league was far from successful, but captain Michael Bright says the season was one of re-building for the club as it looks forward to 2013.
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"We didn't have a successful year and as every club does we always thrive to make the finals," Bright said.
"From day one we were hit hard with issues such as lack of numbers and work commitments of players, so that made it really hard for us."
With injuries also knocking players down like tenpins, including the captain, who did serious damage to his knee, Bright said the highlight of the year was the emerging of now senior players who took it upon themselves to do everything they could for the team. "Guys that were once in the shadows, like James Kelly, Danny Graham, Ben Read and Tyrone Nelson all realised their potential and became leaders in the group," Bright said.
"I think we can also be happy with the fact that our under-18s made the finals and that some of the players made the step up to first grade admirably."
Bright said the obvious low light was the team missing out on finals football.
"Not making the finals was the biggest disappointment," he said.
"We were still in contention late in the season but a handful of losses towards the back end of the year crippled us.
"We couldn't follow through on our good start to the year."
In 2013, the Sharks will be making the move back over to Group 3, providing the mouthwatering prospect of a local derby with Port City Breakers.
