Hunter Wildfires coach Scott Coleman has backed the "experience" and "talent" of multiple new recruits to help his side fire in the Shute Shield this season, starting today against reigning premiers Gordon at home.
The Wildfires go into the match having played two trials against West Harbour (29-27) and Canberra Wests (49-0), and a shortened stint against the NSW Waratahs.
They've had a somewhat disrupted preseason with COVID and the rain, which also forced the cancellation of a trial against Manly, but Coleman said the squad was injury-free and everyone bar a single first-grade player, Dylan Evans, was available.
"The nucleus of the team has been going since November, but everyone that is playing has been on board for two months minimum," he said. "We're full steam ahead, ready and raring to go. There's no real excuses. It's probably the best preparation we've had in all three campaigns."
But the coach did admit the past fortnight of training had hardly been ideal.
"It's been pretty disruptive with the rain. we've only had one session in the past two weeks on the field," he said.
"The rest of the time it's been in the gym, or on the basketball courts or whatever we can get on. But that's everyone."
New recruits Luke Nadurutalo, Penikolo Latu, Nafi Tuitavake, Donny Freeman and Rob Puli'uvea, who has returned to Newcastle and is captain, will all start in the game.
Coleman said they made for a more seasoned outfit this year, but he expects his side might take a few weeks to gel.
"We've got talent, experience, are a lot fitter and the cohesion is not where it needs to be, but it's definitely better than where we were round one last year," he said. "We won't hit out full straps to about round six."
He was happy to be playing Gordon first.
"We're diving in the deep end," Coleman said. "They're top two, three team so it will be a good test for us to see where we're at. Their set-piece is one of the best in the comp and they've got red-hot back-line."
The first-grade match at Newcastle's No.2 Sportsground kicks off at 3pm.
AAP reports: Top spot on the Super Rugby Pacific ladder will go on the line at Suncorp Stadium on Saturday, when the Queensland Reds (5-1) will be able to jump the unbeaten Brumbies with a bonus-point win.
History suggests that will be hard to come by though. While the home side in Reds v Brumbies games have won a remarkable 14 of the last 15 clashes, the margin has been five points or less in seven of the last eight.
"We know each others' games inside and out ... it's so easy to get up for these ones," Queensland playmaker James O'Connor said of the rivalry. "They have been the most consistent team this year in Australia."
