ALTHOUGH he didn't achieve everything he had hoped at University, Tony Munro believes the Students are well placed to move forward.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Munro has stepped down after three COVID-interrupted seasons as coach of the Students. Director of Rugby Bobby Harrison is yet to decide if he will stay on board.
University have advertised for a replacement for Munro but are yet to fill the position.
"I told them from the start, I would do it for three years," Munro said. "The goal was always to make sure we left them in a better position, and I think we achieved that."
After putting in place training structures for a young group in 2019, Munro recruited a host of senior players , headed by two-time Anderson Medal Carl Manu, to provide experience and direction.
However, season 2020 was abandoned before it started. By this season, most of those senior players had moved on.
"Last year stuffed us up with COVID," he said. "Had the season gone ahead, I think we would have got to where we were expecting to.
"At the start of this season, we had 97 turn up for training and only 18 had been with the club before. It was virtually starting from scratch. But they became competitive and started to believe in themselves.
"By the end of the season we recorded a few good wins and weren't that far off the big guys."
Manu and fellow Hunter Wildfires Kirk Tufuga, Sam Tufuga and Louis Rogers played the final four games after the Shute Shield competition was suspended.
They will return to the Wildfires next season, but Munro expects the core of the squad to remain.
"I think they have the nucleus who will stick around for another 12 months," Munro said. "They still need a couple of older blokes.
"They probably won't get the quality of someone like Kirk Tufuga, but they need another senior guy to support Dylan Heins. A big forward would help them."
Asked what he will do next Munro said: "I'm not sure. I might end up over at the Greens under-7s with my grandsons."
IN THE NEWS:
- Hunter coal miner at the Mt Pleasant infectious at work
- Hunter's COVID-19 lockdown to stay in place, but NSW regional holidays on the horizon
- Hunter New England Health COVID cases: 11 new cases, NSW reaches 1480
- Knights five eighth Jake Clifford's 15-hour car trip to be at baby Naivy's birth in Townsville
Our journalists work hard to provide local, up-to-date news to the community. This is how you can continue to access our trusted content:
- Bookmark: newcastleherald.com.au
- Download our app
- Make sure you are signed up for our breaking and regular headlines newsletters
- Follow us on Twitter
- Follow us on Instagram
- Follow us on Google News
James Gardiner
James Gardiner, chief football and rugby writer at the Newcastle Herald.
James Gardiner, chief football and rugby writer at the Newcastle Herald.
