The ex-Shield batsman capped 35 times for Tasmania from 1984 until 1992 has been the driving force behind the Greater Northern Raiders concept from day one.

The premise has been simple: give talented cricketers in Northern Tasmania a pathway to push on towards representing their state.

But five rounds in, one win, four losses and the club’s first outright defeat, Bennett said the inaugural season remains a learning curve about professional standards.

He has identified it will take three to five years.

“We just want to have improvement with everything we do,” Bennett said.

“We want improved performances and expectations and then once we start to see that, it is possible to become a professional cricketer from this competition and traction of it all should be greater.”

Back in Bennett’s halcyon days, he sometimes shared the strike with Test star David Boon at Launceston during the golden age of the NTCA.

But sharing the experiences with a Tasmanian regular went out the door fast once Cricket Tasmania forced players to move to Hobart.

“It’s quite scary how far we’re behind,” Bennett said.

“This program though is about closing that gap and providing the opportunity.

“We have to acknowledge that over 20 or 30 years, the standard of the club competition in the North has been well surpassed by the Premier League in the South.”