Coach Peter Maytom is back at the helm and has already welcomed back 60 per cent of the title winning team to training.

The Cobras pulled the plug on entering a team in last year’s Newcastle and Hunter Rugby League competition after Maytom stepped down following the death of his father and the club struggled to to fill a squad.

“The Cobras are such a huge part of the community and I think everyone is excited about the club getting back on the field in 2017,” Maytom said.

Maytom said several players had played with other teams last year, but were returning to the Cobras this year.

“When Phil Badior and James Foot said they would be returning to the club from Dungog it was a huge boost in getting the team up and running again.

“Phil and James had great seasons with Dungog last year and the Warriors will miss them, but Phil’s a Clarence Town boy and James has a lot of mates out here,” he said.

Badior, was Dugog’s leading scorer last year, and powerful centre Foot was the Warriors leading try scorer with 17 tries.

“Phil’s probably still the best goal scorer in the competition and Footy is a quality player and real presence on the field.”

The Whaleboat brothers TJ, Buddy and Alfred, who played with Woodberry last year, are returning and Maytrom is hopeful they will be joined by close mate Callan Gorman from West Wallsend.

Winger Shane Lewis is back from Hinton, along with Will Papamau and Sam and George Dunn.

However, prop Matt Hinton is staying at Dungog and halfback Cayle Middleton will not be returning.

“Matt and Cayle are big losses from our premiership team, but we have the core of a good team,” Maytom said.

“We are supposed to go up to C-grade as we won the D-grade premiership, but we’ll see what the league decides.

“One of our strengths in the premiership year was that the majority of players had been together over a five-year period.

“Hopefully that understanding is still there among the core of players who are back on board.”