After several mediocre years, the Hammerheads had a break-out season in 2017, winning the minor premiership in the Newcastle Hunter Rugby Union’s Divisional competition.

The team came up short in the finals series, losing 31-3 to Easts 1 in the semi-final, and falling 28-5 to Muswellbrook to be eliminated in the preliminary final.

But the team enjoyed a long unbeaten run to the start of the season, and coach Andrew Vizer helped to instill a resilience and belief in the club.

Club spokesman Kelsy Johnson said despite the disappointment of their finals’ campaign, the Hammerheads were in good shape.

“As a whole, the season was a success,” Johnson said. 

“We had a great start to the season with some players coming back to the club that we had missed over previous years, and we blooded some new young guys who should stick around for the next few seasons.”

Johnson said the club had kicked goals off the field, too.

“We have put our name out their again in the community, with local businesses and local supporters watching our games and engaging with us.

“We also had successful event days that most of the players and spectators enjoyed.”

Johnson said the biggest positive to emerge from the season was the enthusiasm and talent brought to the club by its younger recruits.

“We look forward to those young guys becoming an important part of the club's future,” he said.

“In saying that, I would like to see us field a colts (under 19) team and a juniors team for 2018, so that we have a bigger pool of players to field.”

The prospects of Southern Lakes fielding colts and junior teams is likely to be one of the main items discussed at the club’s annual general meeting on Tuesday, October 10.

The AGM will be held at Lake Macquarie Hotel, Morisset, at 7pm. All club members are invited to attend and take part.

Johnson said the club would take expressions of interest from locals who would like to be involved in the formation and running of the teams.

Johnson said no end-of-season report on the Hammerheads would be complete without mention of the club’s committee and canteen staff whose unheralded work helped to keep the club functioning.