Following in the footsteps of James Lowes, Joe Vagana and last year Glenn Morrison is a big honour for me, particularly as I played with the last two at the club and when Duff asked me to do it I was delighted.
Glenn and Joe and before them Jimmy are all cracking blokes and I hope I can keep up the standard.
This week it all starts again. It's time to put the pre season behind us and get cracking in Super League XV and we couldn't have a tougher start.
The Galpharm Stadium is never an easy place to go and I thought they were very good last season. They were 'team of the year' and Nathan Brown got 'coach of the year' and their squad was tremendous.
They have added to that squad from last season and that will make them even tougher. It's a derby as well and that will add more spice to what is already a hot game. We just can't wait for it to start and we are all chomping at the bit.
The pre-season has been tremendous for us. We had a few players starting at different times but we have all been together for a while now and the new boys have fitted in well. We have moved into the new training venue and it's a great facility.
It has brought us all closer together too because the facilities are so good no one wants to rush home after training and there are a few darts and table tennis tournaments going on when we have done.
We have brought a new face into the camp as well with Geoff Evans coming in as head of physical performance. He has brought his own ideas and freshened us up and all the boys have taken to his conditioning very well.
He's not just doing it at our level; he is educating out younger players as well and that's a big boost for them to be getting the kind of education they haven't had before.
He is a cracking character with a great personality but I wouldn't want to get on the wrong side of him; just ask Joe Wardle.
It's important that we get off to a good start this season and that's what we have been building our training around. We have had more trial games this year than last year and we are looking forward to getting a positive start.
Last year that didn't happen and we are all hoping we get off to a good start this season and then we can build confidence from that. Last year has gone now but we can take confidence from how we finished and hopefully take that into this season.
I think the competition will be tougher and more equal this season but I still think Leeds will be the team to beat.
They haven't lost too many players and have brought a couple of really good signings into their squad and they will be difficult to beat but everyone is going to want to knock them off their perch.
Every team as their own ambitions and aspirations but we will keep ours to ourselves and quietly get on with our business.
We had some good news after the Hull KR game when it was found that Koppy did not break his leg. We have all been giving him it in training; you know the old 'Koppy Wave' – waving and clapping the fans as he was stretchered off as anyone who was at Hull KR will understand.
I really felt for him when it happened because I broke my leg last year and it looked like it was a serious break but when it was found out he had only bruised his foot he has been getting some stick from the lads and who've giving him the 'Koppy Clap'
Michael Platt was also back this week with his brace off his leg and he's looking really good. It was just a freak accident while we were training indoors at the Barn in Huddersfield. It was just a clash of legs with Chris Nero – just a pure accident – but Platty's been training the house down and I'm sure he will come back stronger from this and that will be a big boost to the squad.
There's been plenty of banter going round and a lot of it has been centred round Heath. Since he came we have been giving him some info about hair transplants but he's keeping it hush, hush.
A good mate of mine, Michael Dobson at Hull KR goes for injections in Leeds and Strangey and Nero are looking into it!!
Speaking of Heath, he was stooped by the police on the way to training and asked to give his details. Later in the day he was contacted by the police in Huddersfield and told that his car – his brother lives in London and has loaned it to him – had been used in 'criminal activity'.
He was in a panic and rang football manager, Duff, to tell him and he was advised to take the car to Huddersfield the next morning early. He then rang Steve McNamara to tell him.
Steve said he would speak to our chief scout, Mark Robinson, who is a policeman and then he rang Heath back and told him that Robbo said it was quite serious and that it was suspected that a body had been in the car boot.
Heath's brother said he knew nothing about it and Steve said Robbo had given him the number of the policeman at Huddersfield, a PC Kneepshaw and that he should ring in the morning to find out exactly what time he needed to be there and that it was OK if he was late for training.
When he rang the following morning, it was Lynchy on the other end of the phone and he realised he had been well and truly stitched up. He took it in good part though and he's giving plenty back.
I hope as many supporters as possible can get along on Friday and show us your support. We will be looking to get off to a good start and we need you behind us.
Wayne Godwin.