Cowra Magpies Under 18s coach Rory Brien isn't perturbed by the fact his side faces unknown competition each week in this year's Western Under 18s rugby league competition.
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In fact it's the complete opposite.
He's enjoying the challenge of taking on the likes of the Canowindra Tigers, Wellington Cowboys, Dubbo Macquarie, Parkes Spacemen and Forbes Magpies in the newly formed Western competition.
As an added bonus the Cowra mentor and the club's supporters are getting to see a whole new talent pool on display.
The Magpies recorded their first outright victory in the 2020 competition when they came up against the Canowindra Tigers at Spooner Oval in Forbes on Sunday.
The win elevated the Magpies to equal second with the Parkes Spacemen in their pool of the competition.
The undefeated Forbes Magpies lead the pool.
"I think it's great to play the unknown," Brien said of the new competition.
"We're expanding our horizons a bit and they're coming up against different teams as well.
"It's good to see the talent in the bush, it's quite amazing how much good talent is running around.
"You come across some pretty handy footballers that we normally don't see. It's like a breath of fresh air," Brien said.
Some of that previously unknown talent, combined with a number of former Cowra juniors, was on display when Cowra came up against the Canowindra Tigers at Spooner Oval in Forbes, a match the Magpies won 22-12.
"It was a pretty scrappy game but rightfully so, you can't go error free in that sort of weather," Brien said after the win.
"Both teams were up for it, it was a good game.
"You could see they were right up for it, there defence was quite strong," he said of the Tigers.
"We skipped ahead 14-0 at one stage but they just fought back.
"With a few (former) Cowra players over there it put a little bit of spice (into the match).
"It was a bit like a home town derby."
Cowra's best were Darcy Howard and Nathan Steel.
"They stuck their hands up, you could really see they wanted to win it," Brien said.
As for the Canowindra Tigers Brien was impressed with the efforts from Wade Kinsela and Pedro Tapim.
"Wade Kinsela was very strong he just kept coming at us," he said of the Canowindra backrower.
"Pedro was also very dangerous, a shining light, you never knew what he was going to do," Brien said.
