LeagueNews.co | Cooper McEnroe
In a surprising turn of events, Corey Oates is poised to reclaim his spot in the starting team for Round 1, after being overlooked for the 2023 Grand Final in favor of the younger Jesse Arthars.
Oates, a seasoned veteran with 201 games under his belt, faced a challenging season last year, playing in just nine games and failing to find the try line.
This is a perplexing statistic considering Oates' impressive career tally of 118 four-pointers.
However, with the departure of Herbie Farnworth and the positional reshuffle involving Selwyn Cobbo, a vacancy has emerged on the left wing, a position where Oates has thrived throughout his career.
The Courier Mail has disclosed that Oates is the front-runner for the coveted wing spot, with coach Kevin Walters leaning towards him rather than the up-and-coming Deine Mariner.
While Mariner could potentially miss out on the season opener, he currently fills the role on the right wing due to Jesse Arthars' training restrictions following an ankle injury.