1976 Eastern Teams to play in competition.

Waikaka - It is the same old story for this club where they have the strengths in the forwards but lacking the skill of backs.  It must be the culture and lifestyle out that way, as they produce good tough men.  In recent years not many clubs could say they matched the Waikaka forwards with good solid men such as Bruce Smillie, Harold Miller, Neville Bryant, Bruce Cunningham, Bruce Watson, and Lloyd Alderton along with provincial representative Bill Stewart.  Little has been noted about the backs so far but looks likely that Bruce Coombes will again be half back and he is a great player in being able to keep the ball ahead of his forward pack.  Tony Byars will provide the punch they will need in the mid field Alan Stewart will keep the backline ticking over at first five if he fronts this season. 
Wyndham - The club will be disappointed to lose Murray Mitchell its biggest scoring machine, and it will be a worry for Wyndham to find a replacement.  But in saying this the team has been impressive in pre season games and they are not the type of team to let a lose like this affect them.  Winger, Peter Ross has been a great try scorer for them in pre season games and is sure to carry it on in the competition. The teams backline is somewhat an unknown quality as they have also lost Gordon Lee, and it is still unsure whether Ernie Johnstone will be playing again.  The half back should see Fred Crosbie playing in this key position.  What they are lacking in the backs they will make up in the forwards with a ton of experience in Ivan Gutsell, Jeff Lamb, Graham Petterson, Murray Howe and Neil Bulling. The one area they may have a problem is in the loose as this was the positions that they were not effective in.