Forbes Magpies' Group 11 premiership defence begins at home against the Wellington Cowboys

Forbes begins its Group 11 premiership defence at home on Sunday against Wellington, a side that won just the one game during a disastrous 2016 campaign.

It’s a fixture that doesn’t scream danger game, by any means. Forbes flogged the Cowboys 106-12 in round nine last year.

Despite Magpies captain-coach Jake Grace predicting Wellington to be infinitely better this winter, the premiership winning mentor says ensuring 2017 was another successful year would come down to one thing – focus.

Or more to the point, focusing solely on the black and whites.

“I think the Forbes Magpies are playing our best when we’re only worrying about what we’re capable of, and we’re not worried about what everyone else is doing,” Grace said.

“Our preparation has been the same this year as it was last year and our expectations haven’t changed either.”

Although the Magpies pack is shaping up as one of the best in Group 11 with the additions of Todd Grace and Mitch Davis, the club is minus a stack of backline talent from last year’s squad.

Five-eighth Mitch Burke is the only surviving member of the title winning backline – although Ethan Gaffney has moved from the centres to hooker ahead of Sunday’s game.

Grace is ushering in a number of young backs, Jesse Wighton and Jarred Tyack set to be two of the most exciting to lace a boot this year.

“We’ve had a number of changes out wide and, I’m not saying we’ve replaced the guys we had last year, but the new faces have gone really well and there’s an opportunity there for them to perform,” he added.

Grace was determined to start the year with a bang, adding it’s important the club turns the trip to Spooner Oval into a graveyard for visiting outfits. 

“As a coach that’s always one of my goals, to make sure Forbes at Forbes is always a tough trip,” Grace said.

“We’ve got a great group of old boys here so the support is always good.”

Grace has named both brother Todd and Magpies junior Mitch Davis to take on the Cowboys. Both will come off the bench, gifting the premiers one of the better prop rotations in Group 11.

The Magpies host the Cowboys on Sunday. 

FORBES MAGPIES: 1 Chris Kirby, 2 Lee Whitfield, 3 Jesse Wighton, 4 Jarred Tyack, 5 Joe Coe, 6 Mitch Burke, 7 Matt Roylance, 8 Ben Robinson, 9 Ethan Gaffney, 10 Zac Merritt, 11 Ben Maguire, 12 Traie Merritt, 13 Jake Grace; Bench: 14 Todd Grace, 15 Mitch Davis, 16 Andrew Grogan, 17 Ben Gunn.