Last time Randwick won the Shute Shield back in 2004, returning club legend and new first grade coach Steve Holies was a young backrower at the start of his playing career. 

Almost 20 years later, he’s returned from the US to lead a Randwick side who many in Coogee believe are ready to compete for first grade premierships again. 

Image: Ric McLellan

Overview with Steve Hoiles: 

“Everyone is really excited like usual at this time of the year. We don’t get to play at Coogee for a few weeks but we’re all ready to go for this weekend against Warringah,” Hoiles told Rugby News. 

“It’s hard to tell how much the competition has changed since I played, I haven’t seen a competition game yet. It’s definitely a younger competition and there are definitely a lot more overseas players coming across to play in the Shute Shield. 

“It’s still arguably the best competition in terms of playing your way to professional rugby. I don’t think that has changed and I don’t think it ever will. 

“We’ve had quite a bit to work on over summer because I’ve come in with a bit of a different approach. It’s not like we’re trying to play a new style of rugby or anything, if anything we’re probably trying to simplify certain parts of our game. 

“We’ve definitely had a big emphasis on discipline and defence. 

“It’s important to get the balance right, because we have a young, aspirational group who want to play an exciting brand of footy but at the same time we also need to make sure we’re being effective in everything we’re doing. 

“There is pressure from the club because we want to be winning again but I also put a similar amount of pressure on myself. I’m okay with it.”

2022 Results: Semi finalists (lost to Gordon in week two of playoffs)

Ins: Ben Paxton-Hall (Brisbane), Cormac Daly (Ireland), Cyrille Cama (MLR), Tom Silk (Gordon), Sam Croke (returning), Ben Sugars (UK). 

Outs: Tiaan Tauakipulu (Gordon), Christian Poidevin (MLR), Brooklyn Hardaker (MLR), Nathan Den Hoedt (MLR).

What style of rugby will we see from Randwick this year?

“I’d like to think that any Randwick fan that watches us play this year at home or away will leave the game and know that they watched a team filled with players that really care,” Hoiles said. 

“We don’t want to take anything away from our attack, but we want to be more resilient and make it harder for teams to exit their halves and if they do, then make it harder for them to score tries. 

“It hasn’t been spoken about, but for a long time now I think Randwick Rugby has had an attitude of ‘if you score four tries, then that’s fine, because we will score five tries.’

“The attacking mindset around that is great, but we do need to make it harder for teams to score points.”

Player(s) to watch:

“I’m always pretty reluctant to single guys out and to be honest, I could talk pretty positively about a lot of guys right across the grades based on what I’ve seen so far,” the coach continued. 

“We’ve picked up a guy from Nottingham University named Ben Sugars who looks good. I think if he stays injury free and fit, Cormac Daly will also have a big year. 

“I could probably suggest a player in every position who is looking good. 

“I’ve been really impressed with how many guys have been at the club for a number of years and that really live and breathe the place. That is right across the grades and I think that depth will be a big attribute for us this year.”

Which two teams will play in this year’s grand final and why?

“I really can’t answer that. I just don’t know right now but I might be able to answer that in four or five weeks. Right now, I’d just be guessing. 

“If we are able to get to the grand final, I think a lot of it will be on the back of the depth the club has created. 

“We’re going to be strong in second grade, third grade and fourth grade and that’s going to put pressure on everyone to retain their spots, which can only be a good thing for the club overall.”