New Caloundra coach Leigh de Jersey is optimistic they can re-emerge as serious contenders in Sunshine Coast rugby league, after years in the relative wilderness.
The Sharks won a shock premiership in 2014, after receiving the wooden spoon the previous year, but have struggled to make an impact since.
They lost 13 of 16 games in 2019, before the 2020 season was cancelled due to the pandemic.
But they’ve experienced a buoyant summer, littered with signings and strong form.
They’ve recruited former players and newcomers and have won two trials and a Nines tournament, leading into Round 1 on Saturday.
De Jersey said the players had “bought into the new culture we are trying to instil”.
“All the players want to play for each other.”
They started training in early November, with only a small break for Christmas, with Sharks product de Jersey at the helm.
He played for them as a junior, has coached youth sides there for more than a decade and was on the committee.
And he has strong family ties to the club. His father Pete was a goal-kicking centre there, he was a prop at Shark Park and his son Zack is a halfback there now.
“We were sitting on the committee and someone asked: ‘why don’t you have a go (as A-grade coach)?’ de Jersey said.
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“I’d always wanted to coach the seniors … and when I stopped to think about it, I thought the time was right.
“A lot of the boys I coached as juniors are in their mid-20s now so it’s now or never … I have a few contacts and I know a few Caloundra locals who had moved to other clubs, plus a few boys had moved into town from New South Wales, so it all came together.”
“We’re in a good place but we’re not getting ahead of ourselves.
“We know it’s going to be a really strong comp this year, with players coming back after a break because of COVID.
“And people who have had injuries have had time to get over them,” de Jersey said.
They had a bye in Round 1 and will host hosting reigning premiers Stanley River and then visit Beerwah.
“The first couple of games will tell us where we are,” he said.
“But the early signs have been really good.”
The Sharks backline has the potential to cause plenty of damage, with former Caloundra Lighthouses rugby union player Sami Vereneki among a fast contingent.
“It’s our speed,” de Jersey said.
“He (Vereneki) is a an absolute speedster who complements our outside backs, who are lightning.
“Any ball that is on the ground, they get it and they’re gone.”
But the Sharks have already suffered a significant blow, with captain and No.9 Ben Marshall sustaining a fractured jaw in two places.
He also had a broken jaw in 2019.
“It’s pretty devastating, he’s an 80-minute player and he’s been playing some really good football,” de Jersey said.
He expected their first opponents Stanley River to be difficult to beat.
“And from all reports Beerwah have recruited heavily and have some sort of link with Norths Devils (state league club), so they should be tough to beat,” he said.
“Maroochydore were really good in the Nines and have (coach) Dennis Moore there. He’s no slouch and will have those boys going all right. I know a lot of older boys have gone back there too.
“We met Nambour in the grand final of the Nines, and they look pretty strong.”
The Kawana Dolphins should also be threats.
Caboolture are generally hard to beat while Noosa boasts ex-NRL star David Shillington and Gympie could surprise.
The Sharks had their season launch at their Golden Beach clubhouse on Sunday.
The club will also boast a team on the Sunshine Coast women’s competition this year, which is due to get underway in less than a month.
The men’s A-grade competition kicked off in earnest on Saturday, when Noosa stunned Stanley River 42-6 at Tewantin.
Kawana beat Nambour 24-0 at Nambour, Gympie edged Caboolture 10-4 at Gympie and Beerwah defeated Maroochydore 44-24 at Beerwah.
