"It was actually very impressive," the coach and first-grade player said of the 12-0 loss to the Mudgee Dragons.

"I feel we were on top for the most of the game, and probably two little missed tags [cost us]."

Nobes said the reason for a lack of trial matches came down to logistics.

"We just couldn't get the numbers for the carnivals, and when we had trials for the men's no teams could get over and trial with us," he explained.

The coach also said as with pre-season, defence will continue to be a focus ahead of Friday's clash against the Hawks.

"Defence is probably a big thing..." he noted, while making clear there wasn't much of a gap between the two teams on Sunday.

"They [Mudgee] probably just made more of their opportunities."

Reading the scoreline bears that out further, with the Dragons only managing one try - and subsequent conversion - in each half, suggesting that the game was one with a tight margin of error.

However, while Nobes earmarked defence as an area to work on, he was also keen to talk about his team's ability to score.

"We got plenty of attack across the board and plenty of pace out wide.

"There's no doubt that... we weren't far off the mark, and we're only going to get better as the year goes on," adding that at this early stage, the team was still adapting to availability as it searches for its ideal set-up.

"We still do have a few out...[also] a few people gelling in new positions."

The coach was also pleased with the performances of Caitlyn Boswell and Emilie Browne, both of whom were voted joint player's player by their peers after last Sunday's match.

"I think [Boswell] played a bit of junior stuff but she's been really good... [while Browne] was one of our best on the weekend as well," he said.

Regardless of last week's loss, Nobes was excited for his team to experience Good Friday's festivities, which he is hoping will bring out several local residents on a typically quiet weekend for local sport.

"I don't think we've had anything like that since I've been around," the coach added.

He also added that he's pleased with the way that new players, especially those who have come to League for the first time, have adapted to the League Tag format and the club environment.

"We have pretty good culture around the club now..." he elaborated.

"It's fun teaching them and seeing them learn and enjoy themselves. It's good."

He also added that he was pleased to see that several men's players and supporters get down early to watch the Tag team's opening round clash against the Dragons.

"We had a good showing of people watching the girls," Nobes observed, adding that the club has been working hard to ensure that the Tag team is the connected to the "one club" mentality the Magpies are trying to build. .

However, the coach was also optimistic that his team would get an early Easter treat in the form of home-town support.

"There should be more [people] at the home game, hopefully," he said.