He was a pivotal part of Kiama's drought-breaking premiership in 2019.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Now Tom Angel hopes his return to the castle in 2022 can help his beloved Knights reach those heights once again.
"Some of my greatest footy memories have come from my time at Kiama and I'm keen to create a few more in the coming years," Angel said.
After two straight seasons with the Kiama Showground-based club, Angel took his talents north in 2021, to play for Collegians in the Illawarra Division Rugby League.
"The season at Collies was an enjoyable one but quite frustrating as well," the Robertson Spuddies junior said.
"Playing with a new side brought new structures and game plans which was refreshing and fun to learn.
"Being able to run around with a lot of my friends from my time in town at the Dragons was great but obviously the season being cut short and the lack of regular games due to the weather and the rebuilding/restructuring of the competition was frustrating."
In saying that, the 23-year-old took a lot away from his Illawarra experience, which he will use during the coming season.
"I'm very grateful to [Nathan] Fieny and the guys at Collies for welcoming me in and making life enjoyable during my stint there," he said.
"To learn from such a proud and passionate club and a coach with a wealth of Coal League and NRL experience really gave me new insight into where I need to work on my game and how to capitalise on my strengths."
Despite this, Angel always knew he'd end up back at the club he won an under 18s premiership in 2016.
"The decision to head back to Kiama has been on the back of my mind since the moment I left to be honest," the back-row forward said.
"I have no regrets for leaving and giving the Presidents Cup and the Steel City Challenge a crack but the castle is my home and I've missed training and playing with some of my best mates and the whole family culture that playing in Kiama brings.
"Things are starting to change in my life with moving myself and partner to the coast from the mountains and also with work and family commitments, I just feel the time is right and that I want to surround myself with the guys up there at the Kiama Showground and the greater Knights community."
Angel will give a much-needed boost to Marc Laird's forward pack in 2022.
"It has been well documented over the last five years or so the Knights are renowned for their speed, creativity and heart rather than their size," Angel said.
"I'm hoping with myself returning and hopefully a couple of the other forwards from the 2019 premiership side, we can provide some punch and go forward, so our talented outside backs have a platform to attack from."
Those talented backs Angel allude to include Dylan and Matt Morris, Brad Killmore, Ethan Ford, Jay Delaney and numerous other young Kiama products.
"There's a very talented group of young blokes coming through the ranks such as Will Webb, Jordan Morn, Ryan Hodgson, Travis Barrett Hancock and Kade Roberts," he said.
"It's going to be so important for the club to hang onto and blood these guys into regular first grade football.
"You don't have to look back very far to see that investing in your juniors pays off with our 2019 first grade side littered with the players that won the 2013 and 2016 under 18s competitions.
"Other sides are doing the same and results speak for themselves with the rise of Warilla-Lake South, Albion Park-Oak Flats and the Stingrays as well as the next generation filtering through Gerringong.
"It's crucial we keep these blokes together, develop them into hardened first graders and continue pushing the club forward as premiership contenders year after year.
"I'm hoping that my return plus the return of a number of our back-to-back premiership-winning reserve graders to the castle will urge these blokes to stay and we can try and feed them all we know about the game.
"I'm confident with the mix of youth and experience we have at Kiama next season plus the guidance of club legend Lairdy as coach, we have a genuine shot at the title."
The Illawarra Mercury news app is now officially live on both iOS and Android devices. It is available for download in the Apple Store and Google Play.