After starring for his junior club in his homecoming this year, the versatile outside back has been named as captain-coach for 2022 following Brent Wood's announcement he wouldn't continue on after three seasons in the job.

Creith was one of the biggest off-season signings in Group 11 in the lead-up to the 2021 season, having previously left Parkes as an exciting junior to link with the Canberra Raiders before also playing in Queensland.

While north of the border, as well as playing one pre-season trial for the North Queensland Cowboys, Creith also spent time at Ipswich under the tutelage of Walker brothers Ben and Shane.

The Walker brothers went on to earn a huge amount of praise for their unique and successful style that often steered away from the focus on completion rates and block plays.

"He's good. He's had experience even though he hasn't coached before," Parkes president Tony Dwyer said of Creith.

"When he was playing up in Queensland he broke his ankle and he spent time with the Walker boys. He spent a lot of time with them while they were coaching and they had plenty of success.

"He's been in the Canberra system and he had good coaches there so he should be good for us."

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Creith, who starred at both fullback and in the halves for Parkes this year, takes on the role during a period of real change for the game in the region.

Clubs in Group 11 and Group 10 will come together for the Peter McDonald Premiership next season.

Parkes will be one of six clubs in the Group 11 conference and the Spacemen were locked in for crossover matches against Group 10 sides Mudgee, Orange Hawks, and Cowra in a draft schedule released by NSW Rugby League last week.

Like many others involved in the game, Dwyer said there was still uncertainty around the new competition given only a few weeks ago a number of Group 11 clubs announced they were against the concept.

But he added "a bit of new blood doesn't hurt" when discussing the prospect of hosting teams like Mudgee and Hawks.

For now, the Spacemen are working on their roster for 2022 and no great changes are expected in the squad.

The 2021 side appeared to be peaking at the right time after something of a slow start to the campaign.

With their key men fit and firing, Parkes were unlucky not to defeat both CYMS and Wellington but showed their class when defeating Macquarie and Forbes, only for the remainder of the season to be abandoned soon after due to COVID-19.

"Player-wise, well be pretty similar to last year," Dwyer said.

"As long as we keep everyone fit, that was our biggest problem last season. Early in the year we had too many out.

"Chad (Porter), Sam (Dwyer) and a few others didn't really get back into until the second round and that's when we stated to gather momentum, but you don't want those inexperienced guys injured."

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Dwyer said Wood deserved plenty of credit and added he felt sorry for the outgoing coach, who helped rebuild the team in 2019 only to have the entire 2020 season cancelled and the 2021 finals abandoned.

Parkes is also working towards the pre-season western under 21s competition.

After not fielding a team in this year's inaugural edition, the Spacemen will take part in 2022 and Dwyer hopes it helps the club retain a number of young players who have often made the move to Woodbridge Cup sides like Manildra, Trundle, Eugowra, or Peak Hill after finishing in the under 18s.

We here at the Parkes Champion Post can't wait to see what 2022 has in store.

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