He’s coached at just about every Shute Shield club in Sydney over the past two decades, but dual-premiership winning mentor Darren Coleman said his role at the Hunter Wildfires is different to anything he’s experienced in Sydney club rugby before. 

“It’s hard to draw comparisons because we’re a newer club and we’re focussed on developing and building structures that will provide a pathway for country players to professional rugby,” Coleman told Rugby News during the week. 

“There’s a lot of work to do but at the moment we’re trying to set up structures that are as good as, if not better, than anyone else in the competition. 

“We want the best facilities, the best coaches, the best rugby program and we want to provide the best life opportunities for our players, through Newcastle Uni or by doing a trade.”

Coleman will share the coaching duties with his brother and first grade head coach Scott in 2025, while overseeing the development of the next generation of Wildfires.

“Andrew Cleverley from the Waratahs has been up here this week to help us launch our ‘New to Blue’ program, which targets the 20 best 15 and 16 year old kids from the Central Coast to Musselbrook.