Season Preview 2023: Queanbeyan Blues

The Queanbeyan Blues enter season 2023 with unfinished business, after yet another grand final appearance in last year's Canberra Raiders Cup.

This season, Simon Woolford returns to the helm with hopes of replicating their 2016 Canberra Raiders Cup glory, when the former Raider last led them to a premiership.

The Katrina Fanning Shield side will also be hopeful of going one further, after a second-round finals exit to the eventual runners-up, Woden in 2022.

The departure of long-time captain coach Terry Campese caused a major re-shuffle at the Blues, with star players Jake Butler-Fleming, Tristan Eldridge and Atu Tupou all departing the club.

However a new challenge awaits, with a flux of last year's premiership winning under 19's side set to get a taste of first grade football this season.

Blues first-grade representative Adam Misios spoke with media about their new-look team and their preparations ahead of the new season.

"Things are looking good. We've got a new core group and a new coach this year. So, we're ready to go," Misios said.

Briony Frater also touched on the KFS side's preseason and their goals for 2023.

"Preseason has been really good, we've had a good group of girls show up," Frater said.

"We're really hoping we can take it to the next step this year."

The Queanbeyan Blues will travel to take on the Tuggeranong Bushrangers at Greenway Oval in round one.