By MARK CASHMAN

It seems that everyone is getting out of Melbourne and in a rugby sense the Hunter Wildfires are fast becoming a major beneficiary.

Former Melbourne Rising opensider Shawn Ingle will make his Shute Shield debut for the Hunter Wildfires against Eastwood on Saturday and will soon be joined by a few mates.

Ingle has been in Newcastle for two weeks after completing his quarantine and comes into the side for Piers Morrell, who picked up minor shoulder complaint against Randwick in Week One.

He moved to Melbourne from South Africa to attend University in 2017 and played for the Rising against Japan A last season.

“Shawn is a genuine openside breakaway and we don’t really have another one,” Coleman told the Newcastle Herald this week.

“Shawn has had two weeks of training and came down last Saturday as 25th man.

“Hopefully he will be able to slow their ball down and get into them a bit. Our accuracy at the cleanout was terrible against Randwick.

“We weren’t really getting beat to the breakdown, but we weren’t shifting the first threat.”

But that’s not the end of the Victoria connection, Ingle will be joined on Friday by fellow Rising player, fly-half Michael Maloney.

Maloney, 25, has been in quarantine in a Sydney motel after arriving back from Canada.

He won’t play against the Woodies but should be available for the visit by Sydney Uni on August 1.

Back-rower George Osi Noa and 200cm lock Jeremy Burrill arrived from Melbourne on Tuesday and are in self isolation.

Noa played for Warringah last season before joining Melbourne Rugby Club, whose competition has been cancelled.

Eastwood coach Ben Batger said they are steeling themselves for a brutal first 20 minutes in Newcastle.

“We aren’t taking Newcastle lightly as it will be their first home game in something like 20 years,” he said.

“They will be fired up and I think it will be a brutal opening first quarter.

“For us though it’s about remaining positive and getting back on track (after the loss to Southern Districts last weekend).

“We will be looking to limit turnovers and put pressure on them with our defence intent which was lacking last week.”

HUNTER WILDFIRES (1-15):

David Puchert, Christopher Ale (c), Nicholas Dobson, Adam Edwards, Sevanaia Rokobara, Lachlan Miller, Shawn Ingle, Benjamin Ham, Mahe Fangupo, Brendan Holliday, Rob Buserau, Taulogo Lalaga, Hayden Cole, Nimilote Qio, Chad Northcott.

EASTWOOD (1-15):

Jed Gillespie, Ed Craig, Rhys Sheriff, Daniel Cosgrove, Tom Alexander, Michael Icely, Tom Murphy, Pat Sio, Matt Gonzalez, Tane Edmed, Tim Simonal, Enoka Muliufi, Devon Stolz, Fabian Goodall Lachlan Shelley.