Ranga steps up for fresh look Warriors

The changing of the guard at the McDonalds South West Warriors has continued after journeyman prop Puna Ranga was this week appointed as playing coach.

Ranga, who has been club captain since the Warriors’ debut 2010 season, replaces coach and former president Wayne Capper.

Emerging talent Nick Wright, 18, has been appointed club captain and will also coach the club’s Under-14s team.

Ranga said he was excited to take on the coaching role.

“It will be good to get out of behind the scenes and do things on the field, ” he said.

“We’ve got a good committee, they are ambitious with how they plan the future of the club.”

Ranga described Wright’s commitment to the Warriors as second to none and said he was a promising candidate for the position of club captain.

The West Australian Rugby Lea- gue will officially launch its 2013 season at a function in Fremantle this weekend.

Despite significant speculation the Warriors would join the top-flight first grade competition this year, the club will field only a reserves line-up and junior teams.

The Warriors start their 2013 campaign on Saturday, March 16, with a clash against South Perth at the Bunbury Recreation Ground.

Wright is looking forward to the challenges of being club captain and said the Warriors were “going places” this season.

“I’ll bring a younger outlook. It’s all old boys on the committee, ” he said.

“I just want to help out as much as I can.”

He said the Bunbury-based club was an important part of the South West.

“There is a lot of rugby league in Perth so we need it to have a presence down here as well, just so there is more variety (in sport), ” he said.

The Warriors’ registration day for senior and junior teams will be held this Sunday at the Recreation Ground from 11am-3pm.

There will be plenty on offer for youngsters, including a bouncy castle and WARL clinics.