SIX years ago, Kane Arriola was making an impact as an Oberon junior who also played representative football for Group 10, but now he shapes as a weapon for another side.
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On Saturday, Arriola starred at lock for Oberon's senior men's side in the pre-season Mid West League carnival at Diggings Oval.
Though the Tigers were not quite able to lift the pre-season crown, the way Arriola played has Oberon coach Dallas Booth excited about what lies ahead in 2021.
He wasn't the only former Tigers junior who impressed, either.
"Kane Arriola, he scored a couple of tries and he absolutely killed it. He's missed the last several years of footy - he's had some medical issues - but he's worked back and was outstanding," Booth said.
"He got winded there once and we all held our breath as we know what injuries he's had, but he not only got up, he got up and played on. That was unreal.
"Spencer Mangan was another one; he played under 18s for us but hasn't played senior footy before.
"He was thrown on up front, a run-on front rower, and he wasn't overawed at all."
As the Mid West League Cup defending premiers, Oberon again shape as a contender this season.
However, they were below full strength for Saturday, so Booth was pleased with their results for the day - a 20-8 win over Portland, 16-6 victory against the Lithgow Bears and a narrow 8-6 defeat at the hands of CSU.
"It was beyond what I expected. I had full confidence we'd be able to give it a real dig, but to play the way we did over three games with one reserve, that was fantastic," Booth said.
"We won our first two games and we only lost our third with a penalty at the death, so you've got to be happy with that.
"We had a couple out, but the guys who were out there really stood up. I can't give them enough of a rap, so the guys that are coming back will have to earn their spot."
