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Newcastle Herald
Newcastle Herald
National
Max McKinney

Wildfires to start at home in 2023

Wildfires coach Scott Coleman, second from left. Picture by Peter Lorimer

Hunter Wildfires coach Scott Coleman believes back-to-back home games at the start of next season can help his side "hit the ground running" in 2023 as they aim to go one better and make the Shute Shield finals.

In a favourable draw, released yesterday, the Wildfires play three of their first four games at home. They face Manly and Randwick, then play Sydney University away before another home game against West Harbour.

"It's a very close competition, you've got to hit the ground running those first couple of games," Coleman said. "Manly are traditionally strong starters, and then we go straight into Randwick and then Uni away so it's definitely a tough start to the season but exciting as well.

"It will give us an early indication on where we're at."

The Wildfires finished ninth in a dramatic end to last season, falling three competition points short of a maiden finals berth. Coleman said "probably 90 per cent" of the 2022 squad has been retained for next season, a far greater rate of retention than previous years.

"The year before we retained 50 per cent," he said. "It's looking really good. That cohesion and guys knowing each other, knowing the standards - it definitely helps, you don't have to implement it all again, it's already there."

Hunter Wildfires 2023 fixtures 

ROUND 1

Sat 1 Apr Wildfires v Manly

ROUND 2

Sat 8 Apr Wildfires v Randwick

ROUND 3

Sat 15 Apr Sydney University v Wildfires

ROUND 4

Sat 22 Apr Wildfires v West Harbour

ROUND 5

Sat 29 Apr Two Blues v Wildfires

ROUND 6

Sat 6 May Warringah v Wildfires

ROUND 7

Sat 13 May Wildfires v Northern Suburbs

ROUND 8

Sat 20 May Wildfires v Southern Districts

ROUND 9

Sat 27 May Gordon v Wildfires

ROUND 10

Sat 3 Jun Wildfires v Easts

ROUND 11

Sat 17 Jun Eastwood v Wildfires

ROUND 12

Sat 24 Jun Manly v Wildfires

ROUND 13

Sat 1 Jul Wildfires v Warringah

ROUND 14

Sat 8 Jul Southern Districts v Wildfires

ROUND 15

Sat 15 Jul Wildfires v Sydney University

ROUND 16

Sat 22 Jul Wildfires v Gordon

ROUND 17

Sat 29 Jul West Harbour v Wildfires

ROUND 18

Sat 5 Aug Northern Suburbs v Wildfires

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