The numbers are hard to argue with and when you write them down and look at them closely it puts some perspective into the Shute Shield season that Randwick had in 2025.

A total of 54 players were used in the club’s first grade side throughout the season under first year coach Shaun Berne, 27 making their top team debuts.

Throw into that mix the normal run of injuries and unavailabilities – which were quite high at the Galloping Greens – and the word overachiever comes to mind.

So to negotiate all that and still play finals footy – they finished sixth – spoke volumes about the resilience and drive at Coogee Oval.

“Those raw numbers tell you the sort of season we had with injuries,” Berne told Rugby News.

“But while that made it tough, it also means we’ve now got 27 guys who’ve had a taste of first grade and aren’t just happy to be there. They want to win.”

One of the bright spots of 2025 was the strength of the club’s Colts program.

All three Colts teams made last year’s grand finals, with first and second grade claiming titles.

“The club’s in a good position,” Berne said.

“Some of those second Colts boys were young, so they’ll go around again, but a lot of first Colts are coming up into grade and adding depth.”

Bothers Luca and Mateo Cleverly are amongst the standouts with Luca playing well in the NSW Gen Blue teams and the Australian Under 20s while Mateo is making his mark as a centre.

Hooker Tyler Mayberry is another on the rise while Darcy Stanfield got plenty of ticks after leading the first colts to the premiership.

Felix Turinui, the son of former Wallaby and Stan Sport commentator Morgan, is another on the rise with a strong kicking game and improving game management skills.

“The colts coming through makes selection competitive, which is what you want,” Berne added.

“To win any premiership, you need a strong one to 15 — and depth beyond that.”

Berne is clear-eyed about Randwick’s role in the broader landscape.

“We see ourselves as a push-up or pathway club,” he offered.

“Our job is to develop players from juniors right through to first grade and then hopefully into representative and professional rugby.”

He points to players such as NSW Waratahs fullback James Hendren, who spent years developing at Coogee before stepping up.

“When we talk to young players is that first grade at Randwick isn’t the end point. We want them pushing higher,” Berne added.

That philosophy has long been embedded at the club, and Berne believes it’s critical to lifting Australian rugby more broadly.

Berne’s path back to Coogee has been anything but linear.

After finishing his playing career, he began coaching at St Mary’s College in Dublin — the school attended by Jonny Sexton — before joining the academy at Leinster Rugby.

“There was a bit of trial and error early, figuring out how I wanted the game played,” he said.

“Then I interviewed for an Elite Player Development Officer role at Leinster and eventually coached Leinster A.”

Among the young players he worked with was Hugo Keenan, now an international star.

“You feel like you played a small part, but those guys succeed because of their own hard work.”

A return to Australia followed, with coaching roles at the Western Force and then the Melbourne Rebels.

After stepping away from the game briefly — including a stint with Victoria Police and time working in sports analytics sales at Hudl — Berne was drawn back when former teammate Matt Bowman encouraged him to apply for the Randwick role.

“Rugby pulls you back because of the passion,” he said. “Trying to get that win every Saturday — that’s hard to walk away from.”

Former Hurricanes prop Chris Eves will oversee defence while Brad Gill — a former Randwick hooker and experienced schoolboy coach — will handle the forwards.

Trials start towards the back end of March with an international game against Japan Under 23s guided by Eddie Jones wedged in between Round one and two of the Shute Shield.

It’s a baptism of fire and we shall see how the next wave copes!