Caves Beach are 11-time NSW champions and are currently ranked second in the four-round state premiership but Bryant is not taking much stock in their results to date.

“We are travelling comfortably but we don’t put much emphasis on the state [premiership] series, our two massive goals are the Australian and state championships,” Bryant said.

“We took our focus off the state series a bit because we want to focus on state and Aussie titles, which is the pinnacle of our sport, and we want to peak then.

“We consider the series the best sort of training for us; if we get beaten that’s OK because I like us to make the mistakes now and in most instances we’ve lost races ourselves more than others have won them, which is a good sign.”

Caves Beach have proven themselves to be the state’s premier IRB club with a history-making 11 NSW titles in 13 seasons.

But they have never finished higher than fourth on the national stage.

Bryant believed they were getting closer though and said the club had been focused on a “succession plan” in recent years.

“We have been trying to groom our young ones for state and Aussies and our future is looking pretty good,” he said. 

Bryant is also keen to continue building the profile of IRB racing, which took a hit in regards to competition and participation numbers when rising public liability insurance premiums brought the sport to a standstill in 2001 and dry-docked it for two years.

“Numbers in the Hunter are starting to grow again, which is good, but it has taken some time,” Bryant said.

“But we are the only sport which is still a simulated rescue. Our equipment is used to save lives on the weekend and we like to think that makes us an important part of every club.”

The third round of the NSW IRB Premiership at Birubi Point last weekend had to be cancelled due to dangerous surf conditions.

The fourth and final round will be at South Maroubra on June 18 and 19.

The stand-alone NSW Championships are on July 2 and the national titles on July 22, both at Mollymook on the NSW South Coast.