Wauchope Thunder lost only one game in the Lower Mid North Coast Rugby Union women's competition in 2019.

A 55-0 belting of Wallamba in the grand final would feel like half a lifetime ago.

Now, the club finds themselves having to rebuild almost from the ground up following the loss of several of their grand final stars.

Ellie Johnston, Teleah Waitoa, Breanna Green, Grace Tijou and coach Paddy Bowen have all moved on to other challenges.

Tijou's sister Stella was also likely to appear in Thunder colours until the St George Dragons came calling while Morgan Critchley is set to go travelling.

She joins Johnson (South Sydney), Waitoa (Tigers), Green (First Nations rugby sevens team), Critchley and coach Bowen as absentees in 2020.

Coach Aaron Robinson said they also could have lost Naomi George to South Sydney as well before she was unsuccessful in obtaining a contract.

It is an indication that the Thunder have developed some quality players in their club despite the challenges over the years.

"Ellie has only just turned 18 so it's massive for her, but the negatives are that we lose quite a good lineup for this year," Robinson said.

"She was in the NSW Waratahs Super W squad and might have stayed with that because there's a lot more opportunity around the world in rugby than in rugby league.

"But it's a great opportunity for the girls and they should go and learn while they can ... especially some of the younger ones."

While the stars of their grand final team have moved on, Robinson said it provided opportunities for some of their unsung heroes in the squad to stake a claim.

"Maddison Williams played in the grand final and I think she should have got player of the match ... she was a standout," he said.

"But all the young kids coming through have come out of Wauchope High School and SCAS ... they're local products."