Southern Districts are hitting the reset button in an effort to stand taller in the 2020 incarnation of the Shute Shield.

The Rebels have been well clear of playing finals over the past couple of years and when they were a good four wins out of the playoffs last year decided to go about their in a completely different way.

They want to make best use of their large junior base and make the senior club something for all those bellowed to aspire to.

That said the pressure is still on to win this year and they will try to emulate the open and accurate style of the Exeter Chiefs in the UK.

Rugby News spoke to experienced head coach TODD LOUDEN earlier this week.

WHAT LIES AHEAD:

It’s a bit of a tough start for us taking on Eastwood who must be considered one of the Shute Shield favourites.

It’s at home at Forshaw which will be great but after that we have the bye and into a pretty solid set of games against the likes of Eastern Suburbs, Randwick and Warringah.

We are attacking the season with an open mind and everyone want to get better week by week.

Let’s hope that sees us finish in a handy position and also in a good place to continue the good work next year.

LAST SEASON: Six wins and 11 losses to finish ninth

Not a great season from anyone’s perspective. We started well but just couldn’t get the wins when they were needed late in the season. Lots of learnings.

COMINGS AND GOINGS:

Ins: Tim Metcher (MLR), Liam Moseley (QLD), Harry McClennan (Newtown Jets RL), Iso Nasilasila (Fiji), Liam Moseley (QLD), Nathan Lawson (Newtown Jets RL)

Outs: Shambeckler Vui, Ratu Thiesu (Eastwood)

WHERE WE’LL NEED TO IMPROVE:

We are stripping things right back this season essentially because of the young group that we are working with, but defence as with all my teams will be a big work on.

As they say if you can’t stop them scoring you cannot win the big games.

Our physical conditioning is another area where we will need to lift our game and importantly getting the playing group to understand what they need to do to perform well week in and week out will need to get better.

PLAYERS TO WATCH:
There will be a mix of the more familiar Rebels faces amongst this group and some real fresh ones that are pretty new to Shute Shield rugby.

Lock Isoa Nasilasila will do well, Harry McClennan has come back from rugby league and is a very handy No.7 as well as Nathan Lawson.

Then there is our skipper Marcus Carbone and another one of our locks in Jake Douglas who should team well with Nasilasila.

HOPES AND EXPECTATIONS FOR 2020:
There is a bit of a two-pronged approach to this shortened Shute Shield season in 2020.

We are obviously going to give 2020 a real red hot go but we will at the same time be conscious of building towards next season and beyond.

There are a lot of unknowns out there in not only rugby but society in general and I just reckon that we need to have an eye on a little further down the track – not just the next game.

OUR BIG IMPROVERS WILL BE:

Two sets of brothers – Blake and Ryan Schoupp, Kyle and Jordan Brown – will be amongst the group of improvers.

Add to that list Liam Moseley, Daniel Bell Elijah Kefu and Laurence Tominiko.

WHO WILL YOUR TEAM PLAY IN THE GRAND FINAL?

Now that’s a tough one – I might just pass on that one. Whoever does get that far will have been treated well by the injury gods and have some experience and skill in their playing group.