RUGBY League players don't come more hands on than Dapto stalwart Mick Murphy. It can be a recipe for frustration when they move into the coaching ranks, but Murphy isn't expecting to face those issues in his first season as Canaries coach.
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The fact he'll be doing it alongside old mate and former Dragons prop Chris Leikvoll makes the transition smoother, though the task itself promises to be tricky as the club looks to fill the void left by a number of departed veterans.
Murphy is one, having hung up the boots after proving the glue in the Dapto side that won a premiership then reached a grand final and prelim final in three years under former captain-coach Michael Henderson.
The retirements and roster turnover leaves Murphy and Leikvoll facing a rebuilding task at the Showground, but it's not an unfamiliar one.
It was Leikvoll who brought Murphy back to the club when he was last first grade coach in 2015 as he looked to take the club back to the finals after some disappointing years.
It was something they achieved a year later and Murphy admits there's a hint of full-circle about their return this year.
"It's pretty much exactly the same. Penny's already done this once so he's the perfect man for the job," Murphy said.
"We've been mates for a long time, ever since he came back from England [Super League] so it's pretty fitting that we're coaching together.
"I'd never really thought about coaching but it's sort of popped up. A few things were going on last year and the club approached me and asked if I'd be interested in helping Penny do it.
"We went and had a coffee and decided that we would. It's been enjoyable so far, we'll see how it goes when the footy starts."
While it be will see a very different, and decidedly younger, looking Dapto side that take the park for round one, Jeff Robson and Joel Reddy remain big retentions.
"The team we had the last few years were all around the same age so it was going to happen eventually, one way or another," Murphy said.
"It just happened at a time the salary cap came in as well. We were a bit disappointed with a few players we'd hoped might stick around but we're pretty rapt Joel and Robbo both decided to hang around for less money.
"It's the type of blokes they are. To have Rocket and Robbo say they were in no questions asked was great and they'll really help these younger Dapto kids coming through.
"We've got an 18s side for the first time in a couple of years as well so hopefully we'll give them a crack. Our reserve grade made the grand grand final last year so a few of them will step up to."
They'll get their first chance at that this weekend when they travel north to face Helensburgh at Rex Jackson Oval in a belated start to the season.
"I haven't seen too much of Helensburgh, we'll just worry about ourselves," Murphy said.
"I think everyone's in the same boat. It's pretty frustrating to play the preseason cup and then have a month off.
"I think everyone's just hanging out for a game of footy. Helensburgh won't be any different on Saturday."
Mitch Jennings
Sports writer. Sport is my passion, rugby league my first love.
Sports writer. Sport is my passion, rugby league my first love.
