For Hunter Harley something changed during last year's Central North finals.
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Content to watch on from the sidelines the last couple of years, watching his beloved Blue Boars play via the live-stream, awoke the passion to coach again in the two-time premiership-winning mentor.
"I've always remained passionate about the Blue Boars and I just saw an enormous amount of potential," Harley said.
"I thought I could add something."
With incumbent Blue Boars coach Dylan Duncan wanting to step back, and work '"a bit more manageable" (Harley is an agent with Davidson, Cameron & Co), he "thought the timing was right" to take on the job again.
The hankering to pick up the coaching pad again, he admits, did catch him a bit by surprise.
"I didn't think it was an itch that needed scratching," he said.
It is five years since he last "coached in clubland" and so understandably there is a bit of a different feel. Harley said probably only four of last year's side he had consistently coached before.
But that, he believes, isn't a bad thing.
"I won't be singing off the same old song sheet, I'll be new to people," he said.
That being said he will be looking to introduce some new things.
The Blue Boars do have a few older heads set to return, Matt Schwager and Todd Farrer, who will assist Harley, to name a couple. Harley said Tim O'Brien, who was the player of the grand final last time he donned a Blue Boars jersey, has also committed to doing the pre-season. He'll "see how the body feels" after that.
"The youth we've got, there is so much potential there. They just need four or five old heads to help them win those big games," he said.
He said they don't really need to change too much, it's just a matter of "little areas they could do better".
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"We've got to be smarter," he said.
"I like the way young fellas play. I think they're exciting."
That expansive game though sometimes is "not sustainable".
Harley spoke about looking to bring a bit more structure into their play in their own 40.
The Blue Boars officially start pre-season at 8am at Dangar Park on Saturday.
They had a session with Sydney University director of rugby Jack Farrer before Christmas, which they had a good turnout for in 43 degree heat.
As far as trials Harley said they are looking to organise something with Roma.
"The draw is a bit unkind to us at the start. We play Quirindi, then have a bye, then have Easter, then Pirates," he said.
