There were around 10 people at training when Brad Tighe first turned up earlier this year.
By the time coronavirus brought a halt to proceedings in March, those numbers at Walters Park had grown to at least 30.
The new Awabakal captain-coach remains hopeful of maintaining that momentum, whenever competition starts after the COVID-19 crisis and along with key signing Scott Briggs, as the former NRL player continues his career in Newcastle and Hunter Community Rugby League (NCHRL).
"We want to build a club," Tighe told the Newcastle Herald.
"We'd been training for about three or four weeks before COVID-19. It just hit at the wrong time.
"Hopefully we can pick up again where we left off."
Tighe, now aged 36, played 171 games between the Knights, Penrith and Gold Coast before capping off four seasons at Western Suburbs with a Newcastle Rugby League premiership last year.
The Rosellas centre was all set to retire and "hang up the boots".
Tighe even turned down an off-season offer to join coach Matt Lantry in shifting from Wests to Maitland.
Some discussions with fellow former Knights players Owen Craigie and Ash Gordon helped change his mind, especially an opportunity to take on a leadership role.
"I felt like I was ready to finish at the end of last year," Tighe said.
"There was a chance to go to Maitland afterwards, but I was struggling to commit again [to Newcastle RL] between work and family.
"Then this opportunity popped up and I sat down with Owen and Ash and a few others at Awabakal. They asked me to be involved as captain-coach and I put my hand up."
The 2020 season remains on hold at the moment because of the global pandemic, but NSW Rugby League announced last week that NCHRL would be kicking off July 18.
"From our point of view, some footy is going to be better than nothing," Tighe said.
"Something at the back end of the year, 10 games and a short finals series."
Tighe said the aim, if not this year eventually, would be for Awabakal to feature in A-grade and also have the capacity to field additional teams in lower divisions.
It was hoped recruiting both Tighe and Briggs could have a "snowball effect".
Tighe and Briggs played against each other in the most recent Newcastle RL decider, which saw Wests defeat Cessnock 32-0 at McDonald Jones Stadium in September.
They have also lined up for opposing sides at the NSW Aboriginal Rugby League Knockout, Tighe with the Newcastle Yowies and Briggs with the Newcastle All Blacks.
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