Right across regional NSW, ex-NRL players are popping up either as coaches, players or both.

And the quality lining up to be involved in bush footy across the state is particularly impressive ahead of the 2019 season.

No bigger names of course than Todd Carney and Jamie Lyon, who set tongues wagging when they agreed earlier this year to take on captain-coach roles in the Northern Rivers competition with Byron Bay and Ballina respectively.

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Round 20

But then you can throw in Jack Littlejohn, who at just 27 decided to quit the English Super League where he was starring for Salford to lead the Mudgee Dragons in the Group 10 competition in the state’s west next season.

Josh Starling (28), who had his best NRL years at Manly, is another in Group 10. He’ll fill the captain-coach void left by Luke Branighan, who will instead run the show at Bathurst St Pat’s in 2019.

Danny Wicks quit the Eels to captain-coach the Grafton Ghosts in 2017. Pic Peter Wallis Source: News Corp Australia

But these are just the latest in a long line of former first-graders to bolster bush footy with their experience and class.

Mick Sullivan — who played for the Northern Eagles, Cronulla and Canterbury, as well as Warrington in the Super League — is the most successful captain-coach in Group 10 history having won five premierships with Orange CYMS since linking up with the club in 2010.

And he isn’t done yet, agreeing to captain-coach his junior club Wingham over the next two seasons.

“This is a huge coup for us,’’ Wingham president Craig Martin told the Manning River Times.

“It’s probably the biggest signing the club has made since (former Balmain Tiger) Darryl Palmer back in 1980.

“He’s still the best player in Group 10 and that’s a lot stronger than here.”

Danny Wicks shocked Parramatta when he decided to quit the NRL at the top of his game to return to his home town of Yamba and captain-coach the Grafton Ghosts in 2017.

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And Clive Churchill Medallist Glenn Stewart capped a decorated career, by helping his junior club Wests win the Illawarra League title this year.

In the nation’s capital there’s elite talent everywhere you look.

Aaron Gorrell — former St George Illawarra, Brisbane and Catalans hooker — has been coaching the Queanbeyan Roos in the Canberra Raiders Cup for the best part of a decade.

Terry Campese returned from a stint with Hull KR to captain-coach their arch-rivals the Queanbeyan Blues, taking over from another Raiders veteran Simon Woolford in 2017.

Scott Logan — who played close to 250 first-grade games in Australia and England — has been coaching Belconnen United for the past two seasons, and he’s bought former Canberra and Newcastle big-bopper Sam Mataora for the upcoming season, as well as Raiders stalwart Glen Buttriss, who’s coming off a season captain-coaching his junior club Cootamundra.

While Mitch and Tyler Cornish, both in their mid-20s, have returned to their home town to play for the Goulburn Bulldogs.

One man all too familiar with the Raiders Cup, and the stars that have given the competition a boost at the end of their elite careers, is Lincoln Withers

After finishing up his 13-year professional career with Hull KR in 2013, he returned to Canberra where he and former Raiders teammate David Howell shared the player-coaching role at the Gungahlin Bulls in their second year in the competition.

This year, Withers returned to his junior club Woden Valley and helped the Rams clinch their first premiership since 1996.

It was going to be his last hoorah, and having been crowned man of the match in the grand final it would’ve been the ideal time to call curtains on his impressive career.

Instead, he answered an SOS from the club to captain-coach in 2019 because last season’s mentor Ash Barnes has agreed to coach the Canberra Raiders’ Jersey Flegg side.

Lincoln Withers has been a major player in the Canberra Raiders Cup for the past five years. Source: News Corp Australia

Withers says he feels indebted to the club and sees it as a chance to give back.

“You probably don’t realise until you do play with these kids that they do look up to you, you probably forget that,” he told foxsports.com.au.

“You’re just there to have a bit of fun and a laugh but (coaching) probably just comes naturally. You might not be superstars but you’ve just got that footy knowledge.

“I really enjoy giving a little back to the kids and seeing them do something or enjoy what we’re teaching them.

“Rugby league gave me everything, I was playing for the Rams from three or four years of age.

“I probably wouldn’t have made it if it wasn’t for a club like that. So, if I can give back to them and help out the next generation that gives me a buzz.”

Of course, he’s also playing because he simply loves the game.

“Now that I’m in the real world as I call it, working and kids, I need a little bit of an outlet. Everyone does. It just gives me a couple of hours a week to act like a kid again and clear the head,” he added.

Withers has seen the competition get quicker and more skilful over the years, and the influx of ex-NRL stars has a lot to do with it.

It’s just as important off the park too.

As Mudgee Dragons president Sebastian Flack points out, the interest that comes with a marquee signing like Littlejohn is huge for the town.

Jack Littlejohn has agreed to captain-coach the Mudgee Dragons in Group 10. Source: News Corp Australia

“We have a lot of good local talent, some of which sit on the fence as jobs out here, with roster work, it’s a bit of a hassle and they can’t afford to get injured. When you bring in someone of this calibre it sparks up everyone’s interest and everyone’s commitment in the hopes of winning a comp,” Flack told foxsports.com.au.

“Also having someone with NRL experience, it brings a professional teacher with quality drills to help out not just the up-and-comers but everyone in the squad.

“For Mudgee as a whole, it reignites supporters and sponsors interest, people talk about it in anticipation, excitement, and with pride for the year ahead.

“Group 10 footy gets exposure from it and a more competitive team, plus we are talking about it now and they are all positives.”

Country Rugby League of NSW provided a list of current ex-NRL players involved in the regional competitions across the state.

Of course squads are not all settled at this early stage, and many players are still in two minds as to whether they’re going around again. In fact, Withers has thrown out an invitation for potential players to contact the Woden Valley Rams, and clubs all over NSW would be in the same boat.

With the CRL’s help, below is a preliminary list ahead of 2019.

Canberra Raiders Cup

Aaron Gorrell (coach) — Queanbeyan Roos

Scott Logan (coach) — Belconnen

Glenn Buttriss (player) — Belconnen

Sam Mataora (player) — Belconnen

David Howell (coach only) — Gungahlin

Willie Raston (player) – Gungahlin

Drury Low (player) – Gungahlin

Lincoln Withers (player-coach) — Woden

Michael Picker (player) — TBA (former captain-coach Goulburn)

Brent Crisp (player) — West Belconnen

Jarrad Kennedy (player) – Tuggeranong

Joe Picker – Crookwell

Steve Naughton (player) — Yass (former captain-coach)

Mitch Cornish (player) — Goulburn

Tyler Cornish (player) — Goulburn

James Aubusson (player) — Goulburn

Adam Peters (coach) — West Belconnen

Illawarra League

Nathan Fien (coach, former captain-coach Thirroul) — Collegians

Glenn Stewart (TBA, played in 2018) — Wests

Daniel Holdsworth (TBA) — Wests

Northern Rivers

Jamie Lyon (captain-coach) — Ballina

Todd Carney (captain-coach) — Byron Bay

Brent Kite (coach) — Tweed Coast

Shannon Walker (player) — Cudgen

Group 2

Brandon Costin (captain-coach) — Coffs Harbour

Danny Wicks (captain-coach) — Grafton Ghosts

Group 9

Adrian Purtell (player-coach) — Albury

Joel Monaghan (TBA, played in 2018) — Albury

Ben Jeffery (player, former captain-coach) — Albury

Nick Skinner (player, former captain-coach) — Southcity

Group 10

Josh Starling (captain-coach) — Oberon Tigers

Luke Branighan (captain-coach, previously CC at Oberon) — Bathurst St Pat’s

Jack Littlejohn (captain-coach) — Mudgee Dragons

Group 11

Justin Carney (captain-coach) — Nyngan Tigers

Group 16

Michael Weyman – trainer (former captain-coach Moruya)