Trappel has replaced Paul Brownlee as skipper of a City team hoping to go one step better this campaign after they went down in the 2014-15 grand final to Northern Suburbs.

The 28-year-old was in fine form last season finishing as the competition’s second top run scorer, behind teammate Anru Kriel. He also took 21 wickets for a City team that only lost three matches all season.

Trappel said the challenge of leading the team was one that excited him.

“I’m really happy that I’ve taken it on,” he said.

“It was just something I wanted to do, I was torn for a while about going back to HamWicks but then I had a chat with Hair (Brownlee).

“It will be a challenge for me ­personally but I’m looking forward to it.”

Trappel is buoyed by the fact the bulk of the squad from last season has returned with the club also making a number of handy additions.

Muswellbrook pair Marty Blenham and Adam Payne made their debuts for City in the trial against Hamilton Wickham on Saturday, while another former HamWicks connection, premiership-winning leg spinner Todd Mitchell, will return to the game with City after a period away.

Trappel said it was likely Englishman Ben Davies would take the new ball for City after losing Ethan Mann with a shoulder injury and Wayne Dunn to retirement.

City will need to get the best out of last season’s leading run scorer Kriel as well as the experienced Andrew Mullard and former player of the year Nick Bower.

Trappel said he was confident his team could go one better in 2014-15.

“I think we did everything right last year,” he said.

“We had three guys in the top five run scorers and we only lost two or three games all year.

“We didn’t perform as well as we could have in the final but we’ve got a good team and hopefully we can go one better.”

Easts’ young guns to carry extra load