By JON GEDDES

TOP of the table Hunter Wildfires coach Scott Coleman has called on Super Rugby franchises to look at some of his in-form players as they start casting their net for potential recruits in 2024.

While the team currently leads the Shute Shield after 10 rounds, none of their Wildfires’ squad are currently part contacted at any of the five Australian provincial outfits.

And, lets’ face it, some of those teams could do with fresh blood based on this season’s performances. 

“We as a club want all our players to play at higher levels, we would love nothing more than that,” Coleman said ahead of Saturday’s Shute Shield clash against Eastwood at TG Millner Field.

“That is a true indication of how strong your organisation is – how many Super Rugby players you can develop. We definitely wouldn’t see that as a hinderance.”

Coleman revealed to Rugby News a handful of those Wildfires’ players that he believes should be on the radar of Super Rugby teams.

“I think Donny Freeman is definitely up there with some of the best sevens running around,” Coleman said.

Freeman has the right attitude for Super Rugby and he has made an impact with rival clubs.

With good frontrowers always a very sought-after asset, Isikeli Fukofuka is another player who could pique some interest from the Super outfits.

“I rate him as one of the best loosehead props in the comp at the moment,” Coleman said.

Originally from New Zealand, Coleman said Fukofuka has knuckled down, worked hard the past two years and has improved out of sight.

Another player with a lot of potential is Hamish Moore, a 23-year-old hooker who has had an injury-disrupted season but made a big impact in last Saturday’s 31-10 win over Eastern Suburbs.

“He came on 20 minutes into the game, played seven for us, killed it and got man of the match,” Coleman said.

And centre Alesana Pohla showed why he is a former Samoan 20s representative with the attacking potency he displayed in his try against Easts.

“He is probably the best 13 in the comp, I would love to see him get a chance,” Coleman said.

Pohla just needs some consistent game time after a run of niggling injuries.

Young secondrower Morgan Innes is another player that Coleman believes has the potential to make the step up.   

THE FINALS CHARGE  

WHILE the Wildfires may be sitting on top of the ladder, Coleman said the team is not assured a berth in the top six.

“We need to keep working hard to be honest,” Coleman said.

He said and the clear message is that they can’t get complacent.

“We are nowhere near locked into the finals yet, if we go in with that attitude, we will go out the backdoor,” he said.

“We are keeping grounded and know we have to keep turning up, the competition is so close now.”

And the challenge for Hunter will only increase when Shute Shield rivals start boosting their strength in the run-in to the finals.

“We prepared really well in the pre-season and knew we had to start well with opposition teams getting a lot of Super Rugby players back,” Coleman said.

“We knew we had to be up there now to be there at the pointy end of the season.”

With that in mind the club has adopted a  new mantra for the remainder of the season –  “Winners focus on winning and working hard, losers focus on winners and whinging.”          

MIND GAMES  

AFTER losing their previous two games to Souths and Gordon, the Wildfires got back in the winners’ circle with their victory over Easts.

“I wouldn’t say we are back on track, but it was a step in the right direction,” Coleman said.

“I wouldn’t say we are firing on all cylinders at the moment.

“With the standard of the competition if you turn up on a Saturday not mentally prepared and off 20 per cent in your game you are going to lose it.”

Every team will go through ebbs and flow through a season. The key is having them peaking at the business end.

“It’s near impossible to have the players mentally and physically up for 18 rounds,” Coleman said. “So you are definitely going to have ups and downs and form slumps in the season.”