By MARK CASHMAN

Randwick coach Ben McCormack didn’t muck around when asked if the “lines of communication” with Gordon coach Darren Coleman had been their normal robust selves this week.

McCormack and Coleman are great mates from their special time together at Warringah in 2017, a time that saw them somehow negotiate the sudden death of Lachie Ward and snare much-storied premiership.

The pair chat regularly about a range of topics, mostly around rugby, and have a WhatsApp group that mentors a range of up and coming coaches, all in the Shute Shield.

Coaching can be a very solitary occasion at times and it’s just nice to know that the problems faced are not unique to one coach, one player or one club.

“Not mates in game week. No chat,” McCormack shot back as he readied his side to take on the Highlanders on Saturday.