GROUP 16 rugby league gets underway this weekend with local teams the Cooma Stallions and the Snowy River Bears kicking off their 2024 campaigns at home.

The Stallions host the Eden Tigers on Saturday April 13 at the Cooma Showground, while the Bears will welcome Snowy Mountains rivals the Bombala Blue Heelers to John Connors Oval Jindabyne for a local clash.

Bears president Rob Freebody said the club will look to keep things simple in their opening round.

"The early parts of the season are all about holding the ball and completing sets, working hard in defence and limiting errors are the things we need to do to start well in 2024," Freebody said.

Stallions’ senior player Todd Williams said Saturday will be a big day for the club with three games at home to kick it all off.

“The boys have had a really good pre-season and are itching to get stuck into it,” Williams said.

“I think if we stick to our processes and structures that coach Steve Dunn has put in place, we will be fine.

“It will be important not to get too carried away early in attack and really set ourselves up for a positive finish by getting into the grind in our early sets."

Williams said the Stallions are chasing an improved season this year with premiership ambitions. He said Eden will provided a tough first round encounter.

“Eden is a bit of a bigger team through the middle so it will be important for us to aim up defensively and not switch off but as i said the club has had a really good pre-season and there is a tonne of energy amongst the team.”

“Hopefully we can get a big crowd there on the hill to cheer the boys and girls to start a bumper season.”

The Cooma Stallions reserve grade side is home to the Eden Tigers to start their season. The Bears reserves are away to the Tathra Sea Eagle. The Blue Heelers will not field a reserve grade this season.

Ladies League Tag starts on Saturday in Group 16 competition with six teams vying for premiership glory.

The Cooma Fillies will take to the showground when they host Eden to start what will be a fantastic start to the season with three Cooma grades at home in front of fans. The always strong Bombala league tag side start the year with a bye.

This year, the Cooma Stallions have worked hard to make possible an under 18s side. They have the bye in round one, before travelling to Merimbula to take on the Bulldogs in round two.

At the time of print, the Cooma Fillies are due to kick off at 1.30pm, Cooma reserve grade will follow at 2.30pm before the day is concluded with first grade at 4pm.

The Snowy River Bears are scheduled to play their first grade game at 2:30pm in Jindabyne on Saturday April 13, while the reserve grade side will play on Sunday at 12:50pm in Tathra.