AFTER 588 days, Renmark Football Club will finally launch its RFL A grade premiership defence this weekend, against Loxton.
The Rovers won an epic 2019 grand final against Waikerie, but last year COVID-19 saw the local senior competitions suspended for the first time since the 1956 flood.
Renmark will again be led by premiership-winning playing coach Josh Vater, who said his players are “pretty excited (and) pretty motivated” ahead of the 2021 season.
“We were… devastated to miss out on last year, being on that high from 2019,” Vater said.
“There was a lot of hype around and people were keen.”
Despite the enforced lay-off, Vater says any fears of a letdown were quickly allayed.
“I was really worried that we would lose players, having that year off and not playing (and) seeing other leagues around the state play,” he said.
“On the whole, the club and the group are… really keen and have come back hungry again, which has been awesome.”
Renmark will host Loxton this Saturday and the Rovers’ will wear golden bootlaces as a mark of respect for Charlotte Agostino, who lost her battle with osteosarcoma – a type of bone cancer – earlier this month.
Charlotte’s family has a close association with the Rovers, and her brother, Jack, will play for Renmark this year, after a successful stint with SANFL club West Adelaide. Drew Gallard has also returned to the Rovers from West Adelaide and is set to line up this Saturday.
Meanwhile the RFL Independent competition also starts this weekend, minus Lyrup, which folded during the off-season, due to a chronic lack of players.

A GRADE DRAW:
Renmark v Loxton
Waikerie v Berri
Loxton North v B