The Newcastle Junior Oztag Association under-10s side is made up of 10 players, aged seven to 10.

One thing sets them apart: they are all cousins. Coach Cain Roarty is also related to the boys as their eldest cousin.

With 32 grandchildren in the family all under the age of 14, fielding a team was easy.

The boys are all Indigenous, which Roarty said also made the team unique.

"You don't really see teams as tight-knit as this one in the league," he said.

"Some players have brothers in other teams, but these guys are surrounded by their own family in the same team. It keeps them all close and they play well together."

The team, or the Rabbitohs as they are known, lived up to their coach's expectations last season.

Having formed in October, the team emerged as undefeated champions of the association's junior championship in December.

Roarty, who spends what limited spare time he has playing for the association's senior league, was proud of his "little mates".

The junior competition starts a fresh season this week after breaking over the holiday period.