Despite a horror run of injuries, Randwick fought their way to the first week of the finals with a young group in 2025 and will be hoping to push further into the playoffs later this year.

Tragically, the club lost one of its most loyal members late last year and head coach Shaun Berne said things still don’t quite feel right at Coogee Oval.

Overview with Shaun Berne: 

“It was a pretty tough summer for our club after we lost our first grade manager Peter Meagher (in the Bondi terror attacks). It was a tragedy for everyone involved and it really hit our community hard,” Berne said. 

“A lot of clubs survive on people like Peter, who commit themselves to the club. He’d just been there forever, so for him not to be around anymore, it’s a hole you can’t really fill. I know every club has one or two of those people and he was that person for us, so it’s going to be tough for a while without him. 

“On the footy front, I think every club feels good about the preseason at this point of the year. 

“We played a game earlier this month against Army, which was sort of a mixed side. It was a good contest, we got off to a bit of a flyer and then Army came back at us with their fitness levels and determination and we held on. It was a good day.

“Last year we had a really young group and to be honest, we just didn’t have much luck.

“We had a bunch of injuries and a lot of shoulder surgeries, we just needed a bit more luck. I’m sure I’m not alone in saying that and a few other clubs would feel the same with injury as well, but it hit us hard last year.”

2025: 6th (lost to Easts 40-19 in first week of finals)

Ins: Mitch Watts (Western Force)

Outs: Michael McDonald (Norths), Kye Willoughby (Souths)

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

“Like every club, the focus in preseason is to get fit. You can’t play rugby at the highest level, first grade or Shute Shield level, if you’re not fit.

“That’s especially important with the way Randwick likes to play. We like to move the ball and you can’t do that unless you’re fit enough to do it, so that’s always going to be a focus point in any preseason.

“We’ve had some guys step up to run our S&C program and we’ve been lucky there. Patrick Fox has come in and done a good job. He was involved with Colts last year, so it’s good to promote from within, especially with our Colts making all three grand finals.

“He’s done a good job getting our guys fit and building that standard across the group.”

Player to watch:

“I think the Houston brothers, Gus and Xavier, have both looked good at the moment in preseason,” Berne said. 

“They are the two younger brothers of Ben, who is playing over in the MLR. 

“We lost Gus to a shoulder injury last year and Xavier is the younger brother who played a lot of seconds last year, so both are tracking well.

“Jonny Chan too, I thought he was great last year and he looks even better this year. With a bit of luck, you’d like to think one of those Super Rugby teams are looking at a guy like him.

“Jack Barrett hasn’t had his opportunities just yet with the Waratahs behind a few guys there, but I’d say he’ll go well for us this year.

“We’ve also got a guy, Zac McConnell, who has played Irish Sevens recently and has come back into the group. You kind of get excited about those guys because you don’t know what they’ll do or how good they can be until you see them play.”

Who will Randwick play in the grand final this year? 

“Warringah and East were both very good last year.

“I’d imagine Sydney Uni will bounce back a little bit and want to be in the finals race as well, so hopefully we’re playing one of those sides.”