THE under-8 Grafton Ghosts may be the best coached team in the group after former NRRRL premiership-winning coach Col Speed put his hand up to lead the juniors.

Speed, who famously led the Ghosts to back-to-back premierships in 2010 and 2011, is back in the region after agreeing to coach the Coffs Comets in Group 2.

He explained the decision to coach the junior squad was mainly due to family connections in the team.

"My wife actually nominated me when I wasn't there, so it is a bit of a surprise," Speed said.

"In saying that, it is an opportunity to coach my son which I haven't done much of, so I am looking forward to it."

Speed has been involved in coaching junior players for most of his career and said he learned as much from that experience as he had coaching seniors.

"I really enjoy coaching junior teams," Speed said.

"I believe that coaches can learn as much from junior players as they can from seniors so it should be good."

Having a former first-grade coach in Speed should be a boost to the junior Ghosts who are struggling for numbers in the age group.

Ghosts Juniors president Christian Lucas echoed that statement, saying it should be a great experience for the players.

"We have been struggling for numbers in the under-8s but we are hopeful a few more kids will sign on," Lucas said

"There was one of the kids from last year that could have stepped up but his family have moved away.

"We have a sign-on day this Saturday, so hopefully we can get a team together."

The junior Ghosts have also taken a bold step and embraced the world of social media.

Websites like Facebook were used to great effect last season, and Lucas said players and parents could expect more of the same this year.

"It really came in handy last year when a couple of games were washed out," Lucas said.

"There would be parents who would thank us for the post as it made it easier to find out when games were cancelled.

"On the back of that, we have used it to let people know about sign-on days to good success."

That success equates to just over 70 young Clarence kids signing up to be a Ghost this year.

For more information, search Ghosts Junior Rugby League on Facebook or visit their website: www.facebook.com/GraftonJuniorRugbyLeagueClub

Ghosts Juniors

• Who: kids from U6 to U16
• Where: Frank McGuren Park
• What: Sign-on, activities and sausage sizzle
• When: 10am-2pm on Saturday