THIS year's Shellharbour Sharks are determined not to taste the disappointment of last season when they missed the Group Seven Rugby League finals for the first time in close to a decade.
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The retention of key players Matt Carroll, Wayde Aitken, Kade Sampson, Abe Atallah and Ryan McCracken, was the first step to righting the ship for coach Abed Atallah.
Next was adding firepower to the squad of the 2018 premiers.
Headlining that recruitment drive, which also sees Brad and Kane Chapman return to the club, is the signing of the explosive Ryan James from Nowra-Bomaderry - with the centre/back-rower helping the Jets end a five-year finals drought in 2020.
"I thought for the team we had, it was a pretty disappointing ending to the season, with us being knocked out in week one of the finals by Kiama," James said about last season.
"On paper, we definitely had a premiership-winning side but unfortunately it wasn't to be."
However, after seven years at the Jets, including being a part of the club's maiden premiership in 2014, the 25-year-old decided to move on and join the Shellharbour Sharks - a club he previously won an under 18s title with in 2013.
"I didn't make a decision to leave the Jets until early January, as I was meeting with a few different coaches just to see what was out there," he said.
"To be honest, it was one of the hardest decisions I've ever made.
"Anyone who knows me knows how passionate I am about Nowra and how proud I am to wear that Jets jersey.
"The phone call to Jets coach Benny Wellington was hard to do - I just tried to get it out of the way as quick as possible.
"Hopefully there are no hard feelings there with the boys - I know a lot of them would be disappointed but I'll be back in the future no doubt about it.
"Thankfully the decision has been made now and there's a massive weight off my shoulder.
"I'm now looking forward to concentrating on the year ahead with my new club."
What helped James, who was named Player of the Tournament after helping his South Coast Black Cockatoos win the 2019 Koori Knockout, decide on the Ron Costello Oval-based side was coach Atallah.
"I chose Shellharbour because I really like the style of coaching that Abed [Atallah] brings and I believe he can bring the best out of me," he said.
"I actually played a handful of first grade games for Shellharbour in 2013 before I joined the Jets and scored my maiden first grade try wearing the Sharks jersey, so it's exciting to be able to go back and have another crack at it."
After recently starting training with the Sharks, who are celebrating their 100th season in 2021, James laid out some of his goals and ambitions for the year ahead.
"As I'm now 25 and played in this competition a while, I feel I can bring leadership to the playing group," James, who is already looking forward to the clash with his former club at Bomaderry, said.
"That and my attacking play are two aspects I feel can be a real benefit to the Sharks.
"I'm hoping I can help the team return to the final, and hopefully a top-three finish in 2021, as we have the squad to do it.
"And from a personal perspective, I want to stay fit and healthy, while taking each week as it comes - if I do that, I'll put myself and the team in the best position to succeed."