The ex-Breakers and United coach has been back living in Newcastle since February, despite still working at The King's School in Parramatta as a groundsman, football technical director and cricket coach.

Sterrey has been talked about as a candidate for the Edgeworth and Newcastle Olympic head coaching positions, which were vacated in the week leading up to last Sunday's opening round.

Damian Zane stepped down as Edgeworth coach after telling players he would take over at Broadmeadow in 2021. Peter McGuinness and Olympic then parted ways. Keelan Hamilton (Edgeworth) and Alex Tagaroulias (Olympic) have stepped into the breach for this season but both clubs will seek applications for next year.

Sterrey, 59, the Newcastle coach from 1998-2001, said he was looking to retire in in the region and "I want to put back into Newcastle football and I've had a chat to a few people".

He is a friend of top Edgeworth administrator Warren Mills but said "I was close to all the clubs up there ... but I haven't spoken to anyone seriously about any job".

"I don't really know what kind of job I want to do, but I definitely want to help out in Newcastle in some way.

"I just don't like what I see in the junior development up there, I haven't for a long time. There's just not enough local talent coming through that first-grade [Jets] side."

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