DEDICATED Rosewood Roosters head coach Paul Hassett is pleased to have achieved his first goal at his new rugby league club.

The well-travelled mentor has overseen the development of Reserve and C Grade sides for the 2024 Rugby League Ipswich [RLI] season kicking off this weekend.

“There’s been a lot of hard work go into that,” Hassett said.

Rosewood had one C-Grade senior team last year before Hassett arrived eager to bolster the club’s strength.

From having five players in January, Hassett has recruited a squad of more than 40.

That includes some seasoned Rosewood footballers returning, recruits from clubs like Norths and Brisbane Valley, and some newcomers.

“We’ve had a bit of a mixture,” Hassett said.

“From our first trial game, I knew we were going to be okay.

“They are not going to be easybeat sides either. There’s certainly some real quality players in both sides.”

Joining Rosewood in this year’s RLI Reserve Grade competition are teams from Goodna, Brothers, Norths, Swifts, Fassifern, West End and Redbank Plains.

The C-Grade competition Rosewood entered last season still has 10 teams, with Laidley coming in after Brisbane Valley withdrew.

Both Rosewood teams open their new season at Anzac Park on Saturday.

The Reserve graders tackle Fassifern after the C-Grade duel between the Roosters and Bombers.

RLI chairman David Nugent is delighted to see country clubs like Rosewood strengthening their numbers, led by Hassett and tireless club president Shane Brandley.

“It’s fantastic and it’s due to the hard work of Paul and Shane out there and a few other volunteers,” Nugent said.

But while he is encouraged by the influx of players, Hassett welcomed more support for the club.

The Roosters were still searching for a C-Grade coach, water runners and first-aiders to assist Hassett and his son Joshua, who was appointed new vice-president in addition to serving as a manager.

Paul said extra help was essential at training and for game days.

Hassett was previously involved with the Goodna Eagles and West End Bulldogs clubs after playing his junior and senior football with Souths in Brisbane.

He has appointed five-eight Jhy Semple as the club’s captain. Semple led the Reserve Grade side in the recent trial against Toowoomba side Newtown.

“I’ve known Jhy for quite a while. He is very passionate about the game,” Hassett said.

“Rosewood is his home club and he’s just a good talker on the field.

“He gives good direction and the players respect him.”

Young player Will Bleisner, also a five-eight, displayed a lot of character captaining Rosewood’s second side which included some newcomers.

“The C-Grade game was pretty intense, a lot of good football played there,” he said.

Although Rosewood lost both home pre-season games by narrow margins, Hassett was encouraged by the performances.

“I’ve got to take my hat off to them. Their will to compete is probably second to none that I’ve seen for a long time,” the coach said.

“I’m happy with both sides and I’m happy with the guys that are training.

“They just want to get in and learn and they’re doing it for each other and there’s just a lot of respect throughout the whole club.

“It’s amazing.”