By MARK CASHMAN

You’d have to put Randwick first grade coach Ben McCormack in the glass half full category after the off-season the Galloping Greens are working their way through at the moment.

Randwick have leaked close to 10 of their first grade squad that managed to play finals footy last year and then went close to rolling the eventual premiers Gordon in the first week of the playoffs.

Major League Rugby in the USA has hoovered up a few including backrower Christian Poidevin, prop Jake Turnbull and lock Nathan Den Hoedt, one of the better lineout forwards in the Shute Shield last year.

The Melbourne Rebels have picked up Jeral Skelton, Tom Nowlan and Aston Vaiotu and then Brooklyn Haradaker was training with the Waratahs before a season ending knee injury last week – there’s also the mix of guys with sevens aspirations.

“It’s obviously not ideal but with the effort we put into our pathways programs we feel comfortable that we will have most positions covered again” McCormack said at this early stage of the year.

“I’ve always felt that part of your core role at this club level is to produce players who go on to play at the next level or get opportunities to play overseas.

“The more players that you push up to the next level the better, and when you think about it they are still representing the club whether it is at Super Rugby level, Sevens or overseas.

“Then when the time comes for them to return they are always keen to put back into where it all started for them.”

McCormack added that the work the club had put into its highly successful colts system over the past five or six years would again pay dividends in 2021.

“A lot of the successful colts side from 2019 sat in and around that reserve and third grade level last year and did really well, and I think many of those guys are ready to step up and have a crack at Shute Shield level,” he said.

“Reserve grade played finals footy last year and guys like Liam Cornish, Ben Houston and Tom Serhon have all had a taste and it’s really over to them to grab the chance.”

There is some fortification coming down from Brisbane with the arrival of lock Zac Shepherd from Sunnybank and Jamie Rickward, a lock/No.6 from the GPS club, but McCormack was quick to point out there are no guaranteed starters at this point. 

“We’ve got a good core of guys training at the moment and it’s important those few new faces are welcomed and shown how we go about things,” McCormack added.

The heart-wrenching end of the season against Gordon though will be a lesson learnt when the season kicks off against West Harbour and when it grinds on through the 19 rounds before the finals.

“I’m a big believer in learning from every outing whether it is a win or a loss, but in particular finals losses.” McCormack said.

“Discipline let us down in that game and actually for a large portion of the year, so that’s something we’ve had a hard look at.

“After a thorough review, there were some tough conversations between the staff and then with some of the players about what went on late in that game and I think we all came away better from working our way through it rather than just saying bugger it and having a few beers.”

McCormack also sees the middle teams in the Shute Shield getting better with the Hunter Wildfires a team to watch.

“They’ll be twice as good as last year and ‘Bubba’ (Scott Coleman) is a smart coach who has recruited well,” he said.

“The test for them will be sustaining the effort through the entire year after starting very strongly which I am sure they will do.

“Souths will benefit from the continuity of having Todd Louden for a second year while Uni will be fit and have a lot more clarity with Rob Taylor back from his stint at Leicester.

“As for us at Randwick, it’s all about sustainable success. We want to be a staple team every year in finals, putting ourselves in a position to win a premiership year in year out, and we’re working hard to make that happen.”

IMAGE: AJF PHOTOGRAPHY