After playing in two straight grand finals, Warringah missed the playoffs in 2020 after a frustrating regular season that saw the Rats finish the year with as many wins as losses. 

Club legends Josh Holmes and Sam Ward have now joined former flyhalf Hamish Angus in retirement however coach Mike Ruthven appears confident that his young side are good enough to play finals footy again this season. 

Overview with Mike Ruthven:

“It’s all really positive at the moment. We’ve had a really good preseason and there’s a really good atmosphere and energy amongst the group. The boys have certainly worked really hard.  

“I think they’ve enjoyed the changes to our preseason, where we didn’t get back together until early January, compared to training before Christmas. That has really freshened everyone up. 

“2020 was a disappointing season in terms of where we finished, considering the expectations that everyone at the club has. We definitely wanted to be playing finals footy and I think if we did get there, I thought we had the group to really challenge a few sides. 

“There were certain moments in a few key games that we didn’t manage well and that ultimately cost us. That’s been a big focus during our preseason, particularly with some of our older and more experienced players moving on. 

“We’ve got a younger group now and we’ve been working hard to instil the confidence and the knowledge needed to manage those moments a little bit better than we did last year. 

“Recruiting in the Shute Shield is a difficult thing and you’ve constantly got good players getting taps on the shoulder from around the place. I think for us as a club, our biggest selling point over the past six or so years has been the rugby program and the environment that we’ve created up here. 

“We’re really lucky to have a really strong S&C program managed by Dan Tilley and we’re continually looking to improve that. 

“Guys like Josh (Holmes), Wardy (Sam Ward) and Hamish Angus will continue to have a significant impact around the club. Wardy is now the club physio, so he’s still around. 

“Hamo (Angus) is our director of rugby and has stepped back from coaching this year but I think he and Josh will both pop in from time throughout the season to help out and we’re very lucky to have guys like that remain involved.”

2020: 8th (6 wins, 6 losses)

Ins: Rory O’Connor (Waratahs), Dean Bloare (Penrith), John Tuivaiti (Penrith), Hugh Margin (Gordon), Giovanni Mountain-Silbery (Melbourne), Harrison Courtney (New Zealand). 

Outs: Josh Holmes (retired), Sam Ward (retired), Rob Kelly (retired), Maclean Jones (MLR), Mungo Mason (MLR)

Key areas of improvement: 

“Definitely our set piece. At times, it was our Achilles heel last year and it cost us. You have to have a strong set piece to provide a platform to play off in this competition and we’ve worked really hard to ensure that we are super accurate in that area. 

“Defensively, we also felt we were a little bit under done in terms of our defensive systems last year. We also lacked a bit of intent I think and we’ve worked hard to change our mindset and focus so that we really enjoying defending as a team.”

Player(s) to watch:

“I think I said it last year, but I think Ben Marr will have another big year. It’s hard to believe that he’s not playing Super Rugby at the moment, he’s definitely one to watch. 

“Alex O’Dell joined us from Melbourne last year and played his way into first grade. He’s a really consistent performer and has had a really big preseason. 

“The other exciting one is Dean Bloare. He’s a rugby league junior who went across and played rugby last year at Penrith after the NSW Cup competition was cancelled. He was really keen to pursue rugby and he was looking for an opportunity at a different club. 

“He’s a talented kid with a great skill set, great footwork and he’s good in defence. If we can up-skill his game management, I think he’ll be a really exciting prospect.”

Bold prediction for the season ahead: 

“We want to be back playing finals footy. That’s the expectation within the playing group and I think that’s the expectation of our loyal supporters as well. We’re setting the bar high and we’re going to chase it. 

“I think Easts’ will be the team to beat this year. They’ve got the roster again this season, they’re well coached by Pauli and I think it is their time. When you look at some of the players that they will get back towards the end of the season, they are going to be really tough to beat.”