"That comes with the territory of winning the comp," Stringer said.

"Everyone wants to knock you off."

But it's nothing new for the Kanwal-based club.

Ever since Wyong left the then-struggling Central Coast competition eight years ago and joined the Newcastle Rugby League (or the Real NRL, as the locals call it), the Roos have been "the outsiders" who have brought the best out in opposition teams.

Stringer is expecting more of the same from rival clubs when this year's Tooheys Cup Premiership kicks off on April 17. And he's planning more of the same for them.

"I think that the way I coach and the way we train is a good way of doing things," Stringer said.

"I think the same approach can get the job done again this year. It's the approach that I'll probably use for as long as I'm coaching."

Stringer said lessons from the team's grand-final loss in 2007, and unsuccessful campaign in 2008 had been learned hard.

"But last year I think we learned a lot from the right calls that I made, and from the things that we did well."

Stringer said the belief that comes from winning the Real NRL premiership has flowed through the club.

"The way we've started our preparation, and our training, shows that we've hit the ground running, so I think we'll respond pretty well to being the defending premiers but time will tell," he said.

The Roos recently defeated Central Coast premiers The Entrance 20-10 in a trial, despite losing captain Jamie Davis (dislocated elbow) and halfback Matt Sharp (hip) early in the game.

Last Saturday, however, Central Charlestown defeated the Roos 30-18 in a trial which Stringer used as something of a selection experiment.

"We had 12 first graders who either didn't play in that match, or played reserve grade. I was pretty happy, actually, with how some of the young guys, and some of the guys from reserve grade went," he said.

"I like putting time and effort into the younger guys and turning them into the players that you want them to be."

The Roos next trial is against West at Morry Breen Field on March 21.