And judging by the first training session of the new year on Tuesday at Oxley Oval, he’ll have one of the fittest sides in the competition.

While there were a few footballs scattered around, the main focus was on wiping off the excess kilograms that had been put on over the Christmas period.

“There were a few there with excess pudding and there were still a few away on holidays, but we had about 40 turn up,” Kemp said.

“But we’ll start to ramp our training up over the next couple of weeks because there is seven weeks until the first trial against Northern Lakes.”

The usual suspects led the way, including Ben Stewart, Sean Barrett and Mitch Fowler, but joining them in 2017 is an ex-Breaker who has returned to the area after 10 years.

Andrew Fox spent a season or two at the Illawarra Cutters.

“It’s always good to get an ex-junior return to the club,” Kemp said.

The Breakers had a wretched run with injuries at the start of the 2016 season which Kemp didn’t feel could be attributed to any lack of fitness.

“At the start of last year they had about six or seven blokes out through the first couple of rounds,” he said.

“Any time that happens you’re going to struggle to win games whether you’re fit or not.”

Kemp identified Dylan Hemsley, Jeremy Smith and Luke Sinclair as players who will soon be back to full fitness.

“A group of boys did some extras before Christmas and those three are looking good heading into the season,” he said.

Kemp acknowledged Group 3 was a significant level below the National Rugby League, but it didn’t mean the club placed less of an emphasis on getting the “little things right”.

“You’re a bit hamstrung by what you can do fitness-wise because there are different blokes missing at any one time up until the season starts,” he said.

“But once the season starts you don’t have much margin for error, so we’ll do our best.”

When asked if there would be less motivation for the playing group after last year’s success, Kemp said the Breakers would be just as hungry.

“Two weeks after we won it I had people on the phone wanting to know when we would be starting training again,” he said.

“I’ve got an extremely motivated group of boys and they all enjoy being around each other, so we’re looking forward to the season.

“It’ll be a bit different because everyone wants to knock off the premiers.”

The Breakers trial match against Northern Lakes is scheduled for Port Macquarie on March 11.