After failing to reach the finals in 2014 and 2015, the rebranded Sydney Rays have named their strongest squad in the franchises short history, to be led by Northern Suburbs coach Simon Cron.

Cron coached Norths to their first Shute Shield premiership in 41 years earlier this month and has named 11 Shoreman in his squad, alongside NSW Waratahs’ Matt Lucas and Jack Dempsey and Australian Sevens stars Cam Clark and Con Foley.

The Rays open their season against the Western Sydney Rams this weekend and Cron has high expectations for his side.

Overview – With Simon Cron

“There isn’t a lot of time between the end of the Shute Shield season and the start of the NRC but from what I’ve seen in the time we’ve been together, I’m really happy with the group. They are a good bunch of guys and are all similar personality types, which I think is important in a short campaign.

“In the first few weeks, I think combinations will be really important and you want guys that know each other. To start, I will look at combinations and some of those will be Norths boys, but I think the squad will continue to develop over the coming weeks.

“We’ve got Cam Clark and Con Foley from the Sevens, Tom Cusack has decided to play elsewhere, but they only arrive back from Rio this week so I don’t think they will play this weekend. I’m excited to have both of them, they are both good guys and great players. They’ll need some time for transition, but I think they’ll both have a real impact in this competition.

“Fitzy (Waratahs recruit Damien Fitzpatrick) is an awesome leader and a really good guy and I think he is just excited to be back playing footy. (Jack) Dempsey is really strong in contact, he can really dictate the contact zone and has a high work rate. Then you throw in Angus Ta’avao, Michael Wells and Matty Lucas and you’re looking at a good group of guys with great game management, who will all play really hard.

“We’ve got Matt Lucas, Michael Dowsett and Dewet Roos all in the squad so we’re blessed for depth at No.9, they are all exceptional players. Dewet wanted to go hard and he’s not afraid to compete with the other two and I really like that about him. Matty Lucas will get the first shot. Dowsett is returning from a broken thumb, he played in the grand final injured, so Dewet will get a chance this weekend and then from there, the best players will play. The best thing about those three is that they are all motivated and happy to compete.

“We haven’t had a lot of time together but everyone is the same in that regard. You’ve got to cover what is critical rather then what is important and then as the season progresses, you can become more innovative.”

How will the Sydney Rays play?

“We’ll look to target weaknesses in the opposition and we have different attacking structures that have been designed so that our leaders can adapt on the field. Naturally, we’ll be a highly skilled team so our guys will be able to carry, shift or punch holes. In some respect, it’ll be similar to how we play at Norths.”

Player(s) to watch?

“From my point of view, all of them. I think if we are talking about some of the guys that people don’t know too much about in a few weeks time, then we’ve done out job. Hopefully we can help build some careers through the NRC and give some guys an opportunity to be seen and further their careers.

“Fitzy (Damien Fitzpatrick) has really impressed me so far. Irae Simone and Seb Wileman will be exciting in the midfield and Johnathon Malo from Eastwood is another exciting dynamic player.”

Goals/aspirations?

“We want to win it, that’s all we are playing for, we don’t play for second. We can talk all day about trying to make the finals, but if I’m not pushing to win, my players won’t be either.”

Sydney Rays Squad

FORWARDS: Rory O’Connor (Warringah), Ezra Luxton (Northern Suburbs), Angus Ta’avao (NSW Waratahs/Northern Suburbs), Lawrance Hunting (Northern Suburbs), Damien Fitzpatrick (NSW Wartahs/Eastwood), James Hilterbrand (Manly), Nick Palmer (Northern Suburbs), Adrian Hall (Manly), James Brown (Northern Suburbs), Angus Ryan (Southern Districts), Jack Dempsey (NSW Waratahs/Gordon), Harry Bergelin (Manly), Tom Cusack (Aust Sevens), Will Miller (Northern Suburbs), Michael Smith (Northern Suburbs), Michael Wells (NSW Waratahs/Northern Suburbs), Hugh Sinclair (Northern Suburbs).

BACKS: Matt Lucas (NSW Waratahs/Manly), Michael Dowsett (Northern Suburbs), Dewett Roos (Southern Districts), Sam Lane (Manly), Angus Sinclair (Northern Suburbs), Harry Jones (Warringah), Tyson Davis (Warringah), Irae Simone (Northern Suburbs), Con Foley (Aust Sevens), Seb Wileman (Warringah), Dennis Pili-Gaitau (Manly), Richard Woolf (Northern Suburbs), Cameron Clark (Aust Sevens), Josh Turner (Manly), Johnathan Malo (Eastwood).