After claiming a breakthrough premiership in front of a packed house at North Sydney Oval in 2016, Northern Suburbs continued their winning ways into the 2017 season and after a mid season form slump, found themselves back on the main stage on the final Saturday of the season.

While the Shoreman couldn’t repeat the heroics of a year earlier in the decider against Warringah, Norths didn’t lose any admirers in 2017, with a number of players picking up professional contracts on the back of two strong seasons.

Head coach Simon Cron joined the Waratahs coaching staff after the grand final, but caught up with Rugby News to look back on the Shute Shield season and his time at Northern Suburbs.

Overview with Simon Cron:

“This year was a great learning experience for the boys and the group coming off the premiership in 2016. The ability to back up was a new challenge and you have to make sure you avoid things like complacency and ensure you stick to what you’re good at. As a group, it was a massive year. We had a few guys go on and play Super Rugby, we had a few injuries which led to some changes mid year and that was challenging. From my point of view it was another great year, it was just disappointing that we didn’t finish it off,” Cron said.

“Five weeks before the season kicked off we had to play in the Australian Club Championship and we won that but we knew that the fact that we had to peak a little early might come back to haunt us. Mid season we had two guys go to the Rebels, I was overseas and then four or five key forwards got injured so it was just a really unfortunate chain of events but what that did was test our club depth and it gave some guys some experience playing first grade and they had to learn a lot in a short period of time and that probably helped towards the end of the season.

“I thought we evolved our attack a lot particularly in those last six or seven rounds and that allowed us to play more aggressively. Defensively, we got back to where we needed to be, particularly towards the end of the season. We also had a number of guys come into first grade. Nick Duffy came up from first grade colts, Augustin Slowik made his debut at fullback so we had a number of guys that came into the environment and added to it.

“In the middle of the season, we probably didn’t stick to our processes as well as we could have. We started to be a little individual in the way we played which came down to guys not trusting the players around them and that’s when things started to get messy. Being the defending premiers, you definitely have a target on your back but we knew that heading into the season. Teams are always going to play 15% better against you, so you need to be 20% better than you were the year before.

“In the grand final, we just didn’t win the key moments. We had opportunities when we should have passed but we kicked and then all of a sudden there was a try under our posts. There were times when we should have exited but we didn’t execute so it was a game where we didn’t win those key moments and the Rats, to their credit, did. We were in the fight until the end, but even in the last play of the game, we made an error on a quick lineout when we should have consolidated and built pressure. Big moments are important in big games and we had opportunities to win it but we didn’t.

“I’ve loved my time at Norths. I love the players, I love the staff, there is nothing I don’t love about Norths. The biggest thing for me is that it really is one big club. I have the privilege of watching our fourth and third grade and half of second grade every week, I had the privilege of watching our colts program and seeing some of those guys push into grade. It’s a club that just loves playing rugby and that’s the best outcome you can get.”

Standout player(s): 

“They were all standouts and at different parts of the season, different guys stood up. It was hard losing Con Foley. He had an awesome start to the season but we lost him to some concussion issues. In terms of new players in the environment, Nick Duffy had a really good season.

“But I think consistently we had guys right across the ground that stood up when needed and that was obviously led by Will Miller, Hugh and Angus Sinclair.

“It’s hard to name guys because there are so many. Sam Kitchen, Ezra Luxton, I could go through the entire side because we are very much a team. We don’t win unless we play as a team and I don’t think individuals are that important.”

Which non contracted player deserves to play at a higher level? 

“High Sinclair isn’t contracted at the moment and he is unbelievable. Statistically he is outstanding and he could slot straight into a Super Rugby side. Angus Sinclair also has a really bright future and someone like Ezra Luxton is exciting,” Cron said.

“In the future, I think Nick Duffy will also be good enough to take that next step if he keeps doing what he’s doing so there are a couple here that I think could easily become Super Rugby athletes.”

What does Northern Suburbs need to do between now and round one next year? 

“I think the key thing is to continue to do the things that we do well. They’ll keep working on skill development, cohesiveness is really important between positions and in what we call “coffee groups.” Guys need to have good relationships if they interact a lot on the field and that plays a big part in the way that we play,” he said,

“I think Shannon (Fraser) will do a great job at that and he’s got a good leadership group who I have no doubt will respond to the way he coaches. It’s always been a bit of an us versus them mentality at Norths, so I think the whole club’s development is important.”

Bold prediction for 2018: 

“Norths will compete to win the competition again. I reckon West Harbour finished this year pretty well and I’d be surprised if they didn’t start that way next year,” Cron added.

“The Shute Shield is a very tough competition and there aren’t many teams that will give you anything for free. Penrith got really close in a few games last year and I think they’ll get a few opportunities to knock off a couple teams. Then I think all the main players will be in the mix again and will fight it out until the end.”