by Brendan Bradford –

While Randwick needs a win this weekend to ensure a finals spot, it will be Scott Fava’s last match in charge of the Shoremen after the club announced this week it was parting ways with the former Wallaby forward.

Fava joined the club in 2010 as co-coach and took the side to the finals in 2011, ’12 and ’13 but fell on tough times this season. The Shoremen are in 11th and could finish last if they lose to the Galloping Greens and Penrith beat Parramatta with a bonus point on Saturday. That’s a major motivating factor, says Fava.

“There’s still a fair bit to play for, there’s the opportunity to finish in tenth, but we don’t want the disgrace of finishing last,” he said.

“We need to put in a really good performance and hopefully we’ll end up in that tenth position. Randwick have been a bit inconsistent and they’ve got the chance to make the finals, so they should be there mentally but hopefully we can put in a good performance and shake up the make-up of the finals.”

A loss won’t be the end of the world for Randwick this weekend unless seventh placed West Harbour can upset table-topping Manly, but it’s not a task the Wicks are taking lightly.

“No doubt it’ll be a tough game this week, Norths have some good players in Matwijow, Weeks and Will Miller, they’re all crackers who play with high energy and good intent,” said Randwick coach Wade Kelly who is also leaving at the end of the season.

“We’ll have to match that and work on our own stuff. The boys played really well last weekend and showed good desire but we still need to pick up a few technical things. The really pleasing thing is we’ll be able to name the same starting side and that’s the first time we’ve been able to do that all season.”

After five years at Norths, Fava is leaving to seek other coaching opportunities and says he is proud of the work he has done.

“We haven’t had the results this year, but the club wanted me to implement a program where colts can turn into elite first-grade players and I’ve been able to do that and develop the pathway to the next level, but now it’s up to someone else to come in with a bit of fresh air and take it further,” said the three-time Ken Catchpole Medal winner.

“I don’t want to sit there for another year in Shute Shield wondering if those opportunities are going to present themselves, I’m just going to keep myself open and if things eventuate, that’s great, but I’ve also got a few business interests that I can put some time and effort into.”

The last time the two sides met was back in Round 2 when Randwick claimed a 29-25 victory at Coogee Oval. Like Kelly, Fava has named an unchanged side for this weekend’s match.

Northern Suburbs v Randwick at North Sydney Oval 3:00pm 

Northern Suburbs: 1. Kevin McNamara, 2. Will Weeks, 3. Nick Lah (c), 4. Nick Palmer, 5. Declan Carroll, 6. Ben Matwijow, 7. Hugh Sinclair, 8. James Cunningham, 9. Cale Holmes, 10. Henry Fisher, 11. Paul Rokalati, 12. Will Miller, 13. Jac Cameron, 14. Lachlan Rosengreen, 15. Mitch Walton.

Randwick: 1. Toa Asa (c), 2. Alex Walker, 3. Tristan Goodbody, 4. Jesse Harris, 5. Josh Eden – Whitari, 6. Will Munro, 7. Tom Connor, 8. Mark Baldwin, 9. Harry Boileau, 10. David Horwitz, 11. Nathan Roye, 12. William Rees – Hole, 13. Kuki Ma’afu, 14. Ethan Ford, 15. Andrew Kellaway.

Referee: Angus Gardner