The South West Rocks Marlins enter the 2018 season in good hands with experienced coaches Sam Drew and Sam Howe taking the reins of the side for the first time.
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Drew has been in charge of the Macleay Valley Mustangs reserve grade side for the past two season while Howe lead the first grade outfit in 2016.
The two have set their sights on leading the Marlins into the finals series, however their highest priority is building a positive team culture.
“We want to bring consistency into the side, turning up to training and on gameday” Drew said
“If we are going out on the field and playing for each other every week then it will be a successful year.”
Drew was involved in the Marlins’ last successful campaign, the 2015 premiership winning side.
The Marlins have spiraled since though, missing the finals series the past two seasons.
There isn’t many players from 2015 left in the line up but Drew is hopeful of a successful recruitment drive will bring some of the squad back together.
Drew, who has spent the majority of his rugby league career playing in the halves, isn’t sure where he will line up for the Marlins but Howe’s hoping to return to the fringe to ensure he’s on the field for his teammates.
“Hopefully I can move back into the backrow and play close to 80-minutes,” Howe said.
“I want to be on the field as a leader.”
Howe isn’t much of a talker but he’s hoping he can motivate his teammates in other ways.
“I have plenty of experience and hopefully I can lead by example,” Howe said.
“I’ll let my actions on the field do the talking.”
The Marlins side began their pre-season last week and they’re already getting a full squad to the training paddock.
They’re first hurdle for the year will be the Bain Cup, a pre-season knockout tournament between the Hastings League teams.
Howe claimed the tournament, which commences on March 17, will be a good indicator for the side’s progress.
“We have 10 weeks to get some wind back in the lungs, be fit and ready to go,” Howe said.
“It will give us a good chance to judge our preparation and work on any areas we are lacking.”
The Marlins encourage anyone who is contemplating playing rugby league to join in on their training sessions every Tuesday and Thursday night at Marlin Park, next to the South West Rocks Country Club.
The Hastings League kicks off in early April.
