Hornby challenged St George Illawarra to capitalise on winning the 2009 minor premiership - which ended with an early play-offs exit - at the start of preseason training yesterday.

The Corrimal junior declared his side would only get better despite being bundled out of the post-season with two successive losses.

"Winning the premiership would be the ultimate for all of us - that's what I'm looking forward to," Hornby said.

"We're coming off a good year; we have to improve upon that and it all starts now.

"If you asked us last year if we'd take the minor premiership we would have said, 'yes'. In the end it was disappointing because we got ourselves into a position to do well."

Although season two of the Wayne Bennett era is officially underway, the master mentor won't be back on deck until next Tuesday.

Internationals Brett Morris, Jason Nightingale and Nathan Fien will return the week before Christmas.

Another campaign under the six-time premiership-winning coach would only help the men in the Red V.

"Wayne's got another year to help us get better and hopefully we can do that," Hornby said. "Each season is a new season - we've got to go out there and do the hard work."

Defending champions Melbourne are the most obvious hurdle in the quest to end 31 years without a premiership.

"Melbourne are the threat every year. They've got great players in the key positions and you've got to look to them," Hornby said.

Hornby is relishing the chance to resume his halves combination with 2009 Dally M five-eighth of the year Jamie Soward.

He now feels more comfortable in the No 7 jersey and thinks the Indigenous All Stars pivot will only get better next year.

"I'm a little bit more comfortable; it (halfback) is a position for me to get better at," Hornby said.

"Another year under Wayne and the added confidence will do him (Soward) the world of good and there's no reason he can't get better, the same as all of us."

The first session of what promises to be a gruelling preseason campaign was under the watchful eye of the club's high performance manager Jeremy Hickmans.

"It's going to be a tough couple of weeks until your body gets used to it," Hornby said.

"It was still a bit hard on the body; my legs are a bit jelly.

"It's just about getting into shape - that's all you're looking for in preseason, building a foundation for the season."