By Angus Hayman; Image Stewart Hazell

Three close losses. Four points outside the top six. Five rounds to keep the dream alive.

Hunter Wildfires Colts coach Ross Hopkins isn’t interested in hearing how competitive his side has become anymore. After spending the past two seasons rebuilding the program from the ground up, the message has changed.

“I don’t want to be competitive anymore,” Hopkins told Rugby News.

“I appreciate when people say, ‘You guys are competitive,’ but I want to win games. We’ve got to turn those close losses into wins.”

Hunter currently sits seventh heading into Round 14, four points outside the finals footy, having narrowly fallen to three current top-four sides in as many weeks. Despite the setbacks, the Wildfires remain firmly in the hunt for what would be the club’s first-ever Colts finals appearance.

For Hopkins, that’s a position to be proud of, but far from satisfying. 

“We’ve put ourselves in a spot where we’ve still got something to play for,” Hopkins said.

“We started this journey back in November and now, with five rounds left, we’re still alive. There are clubs that are just turning up and playing out the season. We’ve got everything on the line.”

While the ladder shows Hunter sitting outside the six, Hopkins believes the margins separating his side from the competition’s heavyweights have never been smaller.

The Wildfires have developed a habit of collecting losing bonus points while pushing the competition’s best teams deep into contests. It has kept them in the race, but Hopkins knows moral victories won’t secure a finals berth.

“We’ve got to make a statement,” he said.

“We’ve got to beat a side above us. Quite frankly, we haven’t done enough of that yet.”

The challenge doesn’t get any easier.

This Saturday the Wildfires welcome ladder leaders Randwick to Newcastle, a side Hopkins tipped before the season to lift the premiership.

“They average around 55 points a game,” he said.

“If we’re not up for it, it’ll be a long day.

“We’re going to have to defend like we’ve never defended before, but we also know we’re going to have to score points.”

Rather than fearing the challenge, Hopkins sees it as another opportunity to prove the Wildfires belong among the competition’s contenders.

“Against the good sides you might only get three or four entries into the attacking 22 each half. You have to convert them.”

The following week looms just as large.

Hunter travels to Manly in what will shape the race for the final positions. The Marlins currently occupy fifth spot and Hopkins knows the result may ultimately decide which side extends its season. 

“That game could have quite a bit of significance,” he admitted.

“It might be the one that really decides who gets on the front foot for fifth or sixth.”

Despite the importance of the remaining fixtures, Hopkins insists the bigger picture extends beyond this season.

One of his biggest priorities has been changing the perception of Colts rugby in Newcastle.

For years, visiting Sydney clubs expected Hunter to compete early before fading late.

Hopkins believes those days are disappearing.

“Gone are the days where teams think they’ll stay with Hunter for 50 minutes and then run away with it in the last half hour,” he said.

That transformation has been built around more than results.Hopkins has challenged his players to embrace what representing Newcastle means, tapping into the city’s proud working-class sporting identity and encouraging the squad to build a legacy for the players who follow.

“We’re trying to build something for the future,” he said.

“The boys understand they’re representing more than just themselves.”

That vision also stretches beyond the current playing group.

The Wildfires have begun producing players capable of reaching higher honours, highlighted by Hunter superstar TJ Talaileva’s rise through Australian Under 20s and into Super Rugby.

Others have also earned representative opportunities, giving young players in the Hunter genuine belief they no longer need to leave home to pursue elite rugby.

“We’re getting noticed now,” Hopkins said.

“There’s a pathway here.”

That pathway will receive another boost next season with ex-waratahs coach Darren Coleman stepping away from just first grade and into a director of rugby role as the club strengthens its academy program and focuses heavily on retaining talented local players between the ages of 15 and 22.

For now, however, all attention remains on the next five weeks.

Hunter’s finals hopes are still alive.

But now comes the hardest part.

Against ladder leaders Randwick this weekend, they’ll have another opportunity to prove they aren’t just competing.