Cousins and "best mates" Tyreece Sines and Stephan Blair will form a new formidable partnership in the halves and lead a new-look Mustangs outfit around the park in 2019.
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Both have returned to the club, after Tyreece spent two seasons playing in Mount Isa while working in the mines and Stephan joined the Port City Breakers for 2018, and are excited at the prospect of working together.
The two 21-year-olds grew up playing a lot of footy together and they led the Mustangs' Under-18.5s to a grand final in their one full season together in 2016.
However, Tyreece spent the year at fullback and he hasn't lined up in the number seven jersey since he was 15.
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The Kempsey Dragons junior is embracing the positional change and claims the close friendship with Stephan will aid the adjustment.
"We played together when we were growing up, I was in the age group above Stephan but we still managed to play a lot of games together," Tyreece told the Argus.
"We have never been in the halves together but we have run off each other a lot, it will just be the opposite with myself as the halfback and Stephan at five-eighth.
"We both have the same natural instincts and a real connection on the field, we know where the other is going to be and what they want to do, I think we are capable of something special this year."
The two starred in their roles in the pre-season, as they steered the team in the two victories over last year's grand finalists, the Port Macquarie Sharks and Port City Breakers.
While the duo earned praise from their coach Russell Lardner, they were quick to point out their "teammates make the job a lot easier".
"Everyone did their job, which made it a lot easier on us," Stephan said.
"We have good control of the side. The forwards listen and do what they are told and the backs are always ready when we launch into attack."
The two have high hopes for the season and believe they will contend for a finals spot.
"I reckon we will go pretty good, we knocked off the Sharks and Breakers in pre-season and that's a good indicator of where we are at," Stephan said.
"But we will need to take that form into the season."
The Mustangs open their 2019 campaign on the road against the Old Bar Pirates on Saturday April 6.
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