Image: JB Photography

West Harbour coach Cam Treloar is hoping his side can pick up where they left off late last season and capitalise on changes to the tackle height in 2024 to breakthrough and play finals footy. 

The Pirates finished ninth in 2023, but saved their best rugby for the final two months of the season when they upset several sides who went on to play finals footy and came agonisingly close in numerous other games. 

“We were really starting to click at the backend of the year,” Treloar told Rugby News. 

“The old season used to be 22 rounds, rather than 18 and I would have loved that to be the case again. 

“It was too little, too late for us last year unfortunately. 

While as a club West Harbour seemed noticeably fitter then they’d been in previous seasons, slow starts to matches cost the Pirates throughout 2023. 

“We scored the least amount of points in the first 20 minutes of matches last year but scored the most amount of points in the final 20 minutes. 

“We were probably too focussed on being an 80 minute team and that meant we ended up in an arm wrestle in almost every match. 

“Traditionally, West Harbour had been able to put sides away with really fast starts so we’ve got to find a better balance there.”

Heading into his second season as head coach, Treloar said he’s retained the majority of his top squad from last year and added a few new faces. He’s also hopeful of getting a few former players back midway through the season when their playing commitments in the UK and Europe finish up. 

“Every side probably says it but we want to play finals this year so consistency will be really important. 

“You can’t afford to play two good games, then have two bad games. It’s going to be too tight for that.”

Despite that, the coach said changes to the legal tackle height, with all contact now required to be below the sternum rather than below the line of the shoulders, has the potential to shake up the Shute Shield competition dramatically this year. 

“When you look at a side like the Two Blues and the way they play, the new rules are really going to assist them with the cattle that they’ve got. 

“It’ll be interesting to see how bigger teams with a good offload game benefit and it’ll also be interesting to see how the more structured teams adapt as well. 

“We’re finding it’s the second tackler that will face the biggest challenge. The target area for the first tackler has always been lower, but with that rugby league style tackle where the second man tries to wrap up the ball, it’s going to be really hard to do that and not make high contact. 

“If you’ve got big ball carriers running hard lines, they’re going to be hard to stop. 

“It’s going to increase the continuity of the game as well. Offloads will increase, pops off the deck will increase. There’s also going to be opportunities for that smaller jackler type player to really benefit.”

West Harbour open their 2024 season against Eastern Suburbs at Concord Oval on April 6, in a little over 8 weeks time, and Treloar said he’s confident his side will put on a good showing in front of their home fans.

“It’s exciting to start our season at home. We built some really good momentum at Concord last year and we want that to continue. 

“It’s also the traditional east versus west rivalry so it’ll be good to spark that up again and hopefully draw a good crowd for round one.”