READY TO GO: Cowboys president David O'Leary, secretary Carly McMonagle, U18 coach Matt Grew, A-grade coach Phil Economidis and treasurer Liz Browne are preparing for the club sign on Friday night.
READY TO GO: Cowboys president David O'Leary, secretary Carly McMonagle, U18 coach Matt Grew, A-grade coach Phil Economidis and treasurer Liz Browne are preparing for the club sign on Friday night. Gerard Walsh

Cowboys to start early with Friday night sign on

RUGBY LEAGUE: The Warwick Cowboys are putting the welcome mat out to all prospective players to come to a sign on Friday night at the clubhouse at Father Ranger Oval.

The sign on and sausage sizzle is from 5.30pm Friday.

Former NRL coach Phil Economidis is the new A-grade coach and Matt Grew is again coach of the under-18 side.

Economidis watched some Cowboys games this season and is impressed with the playing talent in the town.

Economidis is hoping to attract a large number of players to the sign on.

"My aim is to concentrate on the locals and develop local talent,” he said.

"The club has a good management group. It takes more than one person to make a club successful.”

Economidis is keen to attract past players living in the town to pull on the boots for the 2018 season.

"Experience is invaluable,” he said.

Grew said he was stoked to be coaching the under-18 side again after steering the team into the past two grand finals.

"Half of this season's team will be backing up again and I expect some good recruits from the Suburbs and Collegians under-16 sides,” he said.

"The aim is definitely to make the finals again, after that, anything can happen.”

Three of the U18 stars from this year's team set to return are hooker Sam Frattini, back rower Cruise Martin-Brown and lock Cody Byrne.

Goalkicker Kai Etherington is up to seniors but Grew is confident someone will put their hand up for the role.

"Kai was impeccable with his goalkicking and will be tough to replace,” he said.

The club will have a new player strip for next year's season.

At the Cowboys AGM, all office bearers from 2017 were re-elected for the 2018 season.

David O'Leary is club president, Carly McMonagle secretary and Liz Browne treasurer.

Danny Lyons is senior vice president and Matt Grew junior vice president. Players and supporters are welcome to come to the clubhouse on Friday night.



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