One of Randwick rugby’s favourite sons returns from overseas to coach a first grade side that hadn’t tasted Shute Shield success since that new coach was playing back in 2004. 

How else did we think it was going to end? 

Stephen Hoiles and a few handy recruits gave Randwick the killer edge they’d been missing over recent years and things just clicked. 

The Galloping Greens not only beat Norths to win the first grade title, but also took home silverware in third and fourth grade on a Saturday at Leichhardt Oval that will be spoken about at Coogee for a very long time. 

Overview with Steve Hoiles: 

“You always plan and you always hope that you’re going to win the competition at the start of every season,” Hoiles told Rugby News. 

“I certainly had positive thoughts and expectations for this group, but I didn’t expect things to go as well as they did for the club right across the grades this year. 

“I knew we’d be a chance in first grade but to have three teams win a grand final, it was a great day and a great year for the club. 

“The emotions of the whole grand final day at Leichhardt was magnified by the fact we had our supporters there early to watch fourth grade and third grade. The success of those sides brought the best out of the crowd and brought more numbers to the ground. 

“They ducked off to the pub during second grade then they all came back and were loud and vocal all afternoon and I really do think that helped us at the end. 

“It was about hanging on in the end and fortunately we were able to do it. 

“The grand final was pretty typical of our year to be honest. We played some really good footy in the first half but games like that always turn and swing and a lot of the 50/50s went out way early, then it sort of evened up for Norths in the second half. 

“We had our chances early in the second half and didn’t take them and then Norths defended really well and controlled territory. 

“At half time I had a feeling that being up 17-3, with the way we’d defended all year, it was probably enough. I would have liked a few more points in the second half but fortunately we were able to hold on. 

“I think it was our defence that won it for us in the end. 

“As a first year coach in the Shute Shield, I was surprised by how even the competition was. We probably only had one or two games all year where we wrapped up the result early. In every other match we had to fight right down to the final five or so minutes. 

“It was just so close all year and I think that really helped us. We’d only won two matches after the first five weeks but from that point on we started to win tight games and we were match hardened come finals time. We knew how to grind out wins and that was crucial on grand final day.”

What needs to happen at Randwick between now and round one next year? 

“I think we’ve got to forget about it all pretty quickly and move on,” Hoiles said. 

“The photos and memories will always be there and it’ll stay in the history books so we don’t need to keep talking about it. If we did, then I can’t see that helping us moving forward. 

“As a club, we need to remember that it took 100 players to get the results we got this year and it’s going to take another 100 players to do it again next year.

“Last time we won a grand final, I remember we missed the finals the next season so we need to avoid that. 

“We need to start fresh when we get to preseason in November and work just as hard if not harder than we did this season.”

Is there a player at your club ready to take the next step in their career? 

“There’s probably too many to mention to be honest. 

“Honestly, I think a big reason why we were successful this year was because we didn’t rely on rep players coming back at the end of the year. I think the only rep player we had playing in the finals was Dylan Pietsch and he only played 40 minutes. 

“I think a lot of our players can and will go on to play professional rugby but I think that might come at this time next year if we can replicate that consistent effort that we had this year as both a team and as individuals. 

“I won’t name names because we have so many guys in that 22-25 year old window who are right on the cusp and they’re all young and hungry, which is great for the club.”