We’re halfway through the 2024 Hospital Cup regular season and while defending premiers Brothers have jumped out to a lead at the top of the competition ladder, things are pretty tight below that.

Before the second round begins on Saturday, we spoke to all nine Hospital Cup coaches to get the inside word on how things are looking in each camp and what each club is expecting in the months ahead. First up, Brothers, GPS and Norths.

Brothers with Ben McCormack - 1st (7 wins, 1 loss)

How would you describe your first half of the season?

“I’ve been happy enough with the results we’ve had so far but there is still plenty to improve on in our performances in the second round of the competition,” McCormack told Rugby News.

What do you need to improve on in the weeks ahead?

"We haven’t managed to string long periods of quality together just yet. We still need to improve managing momentum in games and setting and holding a standard that we're consistently happy with.”

Who is the most influential player in the competition and why?