By SAM DEBENHAM

THE CSU Mungoes have completed a watershed year by taking out the CSU Club of the Year award at the annual Blues Ball presentation night held last week at the university.

Their victory in the Centennial Coal Cup grand final over the Lithgow Bears no doubt helped that presence in no uncertain terms.

“It wasn’t really a goal as such that we set out with at the start of the season to try and win this award but it is definitely a nice reward for a successful season as a club,” Mungoes president Andrew Banasik said of the honour.

“It is judged over a number of areas, obviously on-field efforts have a bit to do with it, participation and a few financial factors.”

But that win could be small news compared to what could be happening next year.

Though there are still dozens of hurdles to get past to make it happen, Banasik revealed that the club is considering an application to enter a first division side into Group 10 next season.

Blayney are set to return to first grade to form a nine-team competition and Blackheath’s presence in first division and under 18s bring the total to 10 clubs overall.

Banasik hopes to help that expansion continue if his club were to gain acceptance back into the competition having previously played in first division back in 2005.

“Ultimately that’s what we’d like to do,” he said.

“We obviously have to have a talk with Group 10 about what sort of chances we have, with Blayney going into first grade and Blackheath competing in seconds and 18s, there is probably going to be some uncertainty as to whether we can fit in there somewhere.

“But I think we have a lot to offer the competition. The hardest thing for us has always been to keep our boys around for more than just the few years they are studying at uni.

“But this year we noticed a lot more players from down town getting involved and if that continues then it is a great sign. 

“The club has grown so much and all over university people are talking about the Mungoes.”

After years of battling debt, the club is finally in the black courtesy of the hard work from the likes of Banasik and his committee, who have secured a long-term sponsor in the Park Hotel.