The Hunter Wildfires have been guaranteed a place in a revamped Shute Shield until at least the end of the 2024 season.

It is the surety that coach Scott Coleman has craved since he answered a call to lead the region's return to the Sydney competition six weeks out from a COVID-19 abbreviated 2020 campaign.

"Three years allows you to build from the ground up," Coleman said. "We are aiming for semi-finals next year. By 2023 if we are not playing finals rugby, I believe it will be a failure."

Coleman has been upgraded from part-time to full-time and the Wildfires are advertising for a full-time general manager - both conditions in the participation agreement set by the Sydney Rugby Union for all clubs.

The general manager will be responsible for the commercial arm of the club, as well as develop a colts (under-20) program and oversee the women's team which competes in the Jack Scott Cup.

While the Wildfires have three years locked in, Coleman believes the next six months will be crucial in sowing seeds for success.

"It sounds like a heap of time but it's not," he said. "We are starting a whole program. We have retention and recruitment to finalise. We have to put together off-season training programs, work out where we are training, the location of a gym ... there is so much work to do."

With less than two months to build and prepare a squad for the 2020 campaign, Coleman worked the phones, called in favours, cast a net to Melbourne and lent on a host of willing locals keen to test themselves in arguably the strongest club rugby competition in the world.

The Wildfires punched above their weight to finish 11th in front of Penrith and Parramatta.

Another late start this season - the Wildfires' inclusion was confirmed in February - again put them behind in the count.

Armed with an increased budget, due to sponsorship secured by Howard Davies, Coleman recruited 22 players, which was a requirement set by Hunter clubs to prevent a drain on the local competition.

With Henry Stowers, OJ Noa, Leon Fukofuka, Kirk Tufuga and Nate De Thierry leading the way, the Wildfires had climbed to ninth when COVID brought the competition to a halt in late June.

"Our cohesion really improved towards the end," Coleman said. "Going into lockdown we were starting to get confident. We had a good run and thought we could get on a roll. It was a little disappointing ...There are bigger dramas for people now."

Stowers has since linked with New Zealand powerhouse Canterbury for the National Provincial Championships, Noa has signed with South African Super Rugby club the Sharks and Tufuga and De Thierry have secured contracts in Spain.

"We want our players to go on to better things," Coleman said. "Henry and OJ are interested in playing again next season. Kirk and Nate plan to be back in May. They love the lifestyle here and can't see themselves living anywhere else. Joe Tamani is still here and interested in re-signing and so is Leon."

Equally important has been the progression of the locally-sourced players.

"Phil Bradford proved he is a Shute Shield player at any club," Coleman said. "Nick Dobson was another. Blair Rush, once he committed, it became clear he could be anything. Carl Manu is getting towards the end of his career, but he was a good leader and great for our culture.

"To be honest, I will tap everyone up from this season and try to build on top of that again. Next year and the year after, we will probably have to still recruit from outside the area.

"We have gained credibility and Newcastle is now a lot more attractive for potential players. We have a competitive side, and now we can really sell the lifestyle and cost of living."

The quest for success is not just about results on the field.

Coleman played for the Wildfires during the club's initial stint in the Shute Shield from 1995-99.

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He wants the remodelled version to form lasting connections with local clubs and players, especially juniors, and foster the game as a whole.

"Our priority next year is to form a team that is competitive and capable of winning the comp," he said. "The second goal is to tap into the local community and local rugby, which I don't believe has been done well.

"The story of the Wildfires hasn't be sold yet. That is one area I really want to fix during the off-season.

"The reason it fell over 20 years ago was because it was a separate identity. We need to be run separately but have a strong connection.

"The junior [rep teams] and seniors will wear the same strip from next season.

"We have spoken to Shute Shield about different timeslots for our games. Sydney clubs can't play on Friday nights, but Saturday night with a 6pm kick-off would be ideal. We had one Sunday game against Easts and it was our best crowd.

"Having a full-time general manager, hopefully he can mastermind these type of things. And have time to carry them through.

"We have to look outside the square. If we keep doing the same thing, we won't move forward."

A level IV accredited coach, Coleman is keen to forge better relationships with clubs and will be available to conduct coaching education programs in the pre-season and assist at club training sessions.

Another key component will be the colts program. The Wildfires are in talks with the NSW Waratahs about setting up a dual badged academy in Newcastle.

"The next two years we are targeting kids aged 16 to 18," Coleman said. "There is a good bunch of 18s coming through. In 2023, they will be our better colts and by 2024 we will have a stream of colts players feeding into the grade. There will be less onus on recruiting."