Randwick missed out on the finals last year and went through a major shake up that saw Ben McCormack come in as first grade boss and Wicks legend Morgan Turinui sitting in as the new club coach and sounding board.

A welter of Sevens stars have joined the club looking to get some footy under their belt as the world series lies fallow for the rest of the year and it’s McCormack’s job to get all the pieces to fit together and wins some footy games.

There’s also the task of bringing through many of their good colts from the past couple of years and making sure all things run smoothly on and off the field.

Maurice Longbottom is the most intriguing test case from the sevens recruits – he hasn’t played 15s before but is an amazing football athlete and if he is used well could be a Galloping Greens game breaker in the Shute Shield.

Rugby News spoke to BEN McCORMACK earlier this week.

WHAT LIES AHEAD:
I reckon I could make a lot of money if I knew how this season is going to pan out.

At footy it’s all business as we look to improve going into Week One against the unknown team that is the Newcastle Wildfires and all the things that go with that.

But away from footy at this point in time we are hearing of new Covid-19 outbreaks every day and rumours of another NSW lockdown which would be devastating.

But as I said on the training paddock we don’t talk about what might or could happen, we’re just focused on getting better at each and every session.

We want to start this competition well and build on what was a great (although interrupted) pre-season.

LAST SEASON: Eight wins and nine losses to finish eighth.

Last season was always going to be a tough gig for the Galloping Greens with a number of their good colts group transitioning through to grade footy.

There were some brights spots, including a late season win over Northern Suburbs at North Sydney Oval, but the back end of games was where Randwick struggled for many of their fixtures.

They were competitive for 60 or maybe 70 minutes and from there that was where the better sides in the Shute Shield rolled over them.

COMINGS AND GOINGS

Ins: Hugo Camp (France), Henry Hutchinson (7s), Maurice Longbottom (7s), Michael McDonald (Perth/Waratahs), Locky Miller (7s), Dylan Pietsch (7s), Tiaan Tiakipulu (NZ Schools)

Outs: Cam Betham (West Harbour), Tane Edmed (Eastwood), Jack Johnson (Surfing Sabbatical), Dan Mathews (Retired), Pat Pellegrini (West Harbour), Sonny Satuala (West Harbour)

 WHERE WE’LL NEED TO IMPROVE:
It’s not one specific area, we need to make some small improvements and adjustments in a few spaces, both from a program perspective and tactical/technical perspective.

We’ve implemented a lot of that already so hopefully you might see us hit the ground running a little quicker than we did last year.

PLAYERS TO WATCH: 

Maurice Longbottom – He hasn’t played before so nobody has any idea what this guy is capable of on a 15s field, myself included. But he has amazing athletic ability and if he can transfer some of what we’ve seen on the world 7s stage he’ll definitely be one to watch.

Kyle Harris – Kyle is a really creative backrower and has a great footy brain. I think being a little more comfortable in the group and in his position this year we will start to see his best.

Christian Poidevin – Gets a crack at his preferred position (No.7) for the first time in a few years. He had a great year in 2019 as a transitioning colt and I think getting that experience under his belt will add some confidence and aggression in 2020 so he’ll be one to keep an eye on.

HOPES AND EXPECTATIONS FOR 2020:

I hope we get the balance right. Players who are having fun and enjoying themselves in your environment always play better, but you can’t substitute the hard work needed to win this competition.

I think we are getting the balance right at the moment so I hope that continues. I expect us to still be playing at the end of October.

OUR BIG IMPROVERS WILL BE:

Hard to go past the three players that I mentioned as our ones to watch.

Maurice Longbottom, Kyle Harris and Christian Poidevin are all exceptional footy players and will add something to our club and Shute Shield efforts.

Longbottom is one of those guys that as a coach you don’t know what he is capable of doing and what he can do but you’ve just got to get him in there in some form or another.

WHO WILL YOUR TEAM PLAY IN THE GRAND FINAL? 

Logic says that Sydney Uni will be there once they get a few of their Super contracted boys back but would love to play either Warringah, Gordon or even having a great east Sydney derby by taking on Eastern Suburbs.