Geoff Sharpe has "unfinished business".
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For three seasons, he oversaw Kootingal-Moonbi's quest for their debut first-grade title, after being promoted from the now-defunct second division.
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That left Kootingal-Moonbi permanently stalled in second place on the ladder, after the competition was halted in the second-last round because of the Delta outbreak.
The season was abandoned last week when the NSW government nixed community sport until the double-dose vaccination rate hits 80 per cent.
So when the Roosters recently advertised for coaching positions for all grades, Sharpe reapplied for the job.
"It is unfinished business," he said, but added that it was more than that; it was also about the "need to bring on some of the young fellas" to counter any retirements of key personnel.
"So, it'd be pretty poor of me to step away without trying to help build a few of those younger ones into the first-grade side," he said.
A big issue, the experienced mentor continued, was keeping players hungry enough to keep lacing up, when two successive seasons had been derailed by the pandemic. (The 2020 season was aborted before a game was played.)
He said: "The problem is, because we've had two years where we haven't had any result, blokes go 'why bother'. That's the concern. I don't know what's gonna happen."
On the plus side, Sharpe highlighted the abundance of top young talent at the Roosters.
"You've got blokes like Ryley Mackay and Liam Hatch, who are just coming into their top level of footy," he said.
"And you've got Zach Hatch. Even though he was injured all year, he was outstanding. Logan Howard as well, and Kurt Hartmann.
"So the job for me will be to get around the next month or two and make sure they commit for next year."
Of course, Sharpe's effort may benefit his successor, if one were appointed.
The great clubman would have no problem with that, as advertising for a first-grade coach was about having the best person possible in the role, he said.
"So if there's someone better qualified than me, then the committee would be crazy not get them."
You've got blokes like Riley Mackay and Liam Hatch, who are just coming into their top level of footy.
- Geoff Sharpe
For much of 2021 Kootingal-Moonbi led the competition, before being overtaken by Narrabri.
The Roosters - minor premiers in 2018 and grand finalists in 2019 - finished the season with 10 wins and two losses. Their points differential of 195 was a competition best.
They also had two wins over reigning six-time premiers North Tamworth.
Sharpe said: "It was a fantastic season, it was great footy and the Kooty boys played really, really well."
A key contributor to Kooty's success in 2021 was veteran prop Chris Vidler, who remained a highly destructive force in the middle.
On Thursday, the big man said he was unsure if he would play next year. But on a positive note, he added: "I'm just gonna rip into training in the off-season and see how I feel."
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