What does a team that has played in the past four grand finals and won the last two look to achieve in 2025?
North Beach coach Phil Douche is clear what he wants: another grand final appearance at least.
Phil Douche watches on during the 2025 Grand Final
That’s the message from Charles Riley Reserve as Douche begins preparing to defend the crown.
And like most sides, we will see a few players out and a few new faces in as he prepares to build a new team.
“It’s exciting,” he said. “Keeping the puzzle together.
“We have a new spine, new players and maybe new combinations.
“An older side probably than last year, but that’s the way it is.”
Gone are exciting young halfback Darius Rogers to the Burleigh Bears, along with centre/winger Jesse Rafferty.
Korey Craig and Jaylen Grey are also in Queensland at the Capras and Ted Shand has returned to the UK.
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Kory Craig & Ted Shand have moved on for the 2025 season
Impressive backrower Tyler Moeau has moved north, so also won’t be available.
“A few losses, yeah, but we’ve recruited well so I’m excited at what we can achieve, Douche admitted.
Kobi Aiesi, who played in the Sea Eagles 2022 grand final team is back, after a couple of years playing in the Melbourne Storm academy, and Kade Green, a front rower from that same 2022 team that defeated South Perth, is also returning.
Jeremy Wallace returns in the halves and Gersh Adams will be back to add some grunt in the pack.
Ken Allen Medalist Jeremey Wallace returns to the Sea Eagles
The Sea Eagles are hoping to recruit through their links to South African rugby league, and like most clubs at this time of year, there has been a couple of decent walkups to preseason, eager to show what they can do.
“We have some good young 17 and 18-year-olds who have come through juniors, who have brought some real enthusiasm to training as well, Douche said.
“We’re waiting on a couple of other signings, which we will make public in due course.”
The club recently held a premiership ring presentation evening for their 2024 premiers with Douche saying this season there was a greater emphasis across the club to look at all grades.
“Maybe in the past we’ve concentrated on first grade, but with some additional help on the sidelines we can now focus across all three grades and juniors,” he said.
Kobi Aiesi returns after spending time in the Melbourne Storm pathways
Douche knows this season will be tough with six teams competing.
“No bye weekends to recover or players taking a week off training. It’s going to be pretty full-on,” he said.
“And the addition of Willagee will make it very interesting.”
Pre-season on the northern beaches has seen good numbers and a positive feel – a feel that often comes naturally when a club is so successful, but Douche knows that can quickly evaporate if results don’t come early season.
“Everyone is keen to do well but we all know it’s about hard work at this time of year, fitness and getting those combinations right.
“There’s a passion in some of our youngsters to want to do well and I hope that rubs off on some of the senior players.
“We’re not sitting on our hands. Raise the bar again ready for a long season. No weeks off, so we can’t rest.”
Douche is impressed with what he has heard from newcomers Willagee and will see how far they have come in a pre-season matchup on March 15.
“I know they will want to do well and I expect them to be very competitive,” he said.
“I also see South Perth up there challenging – they have recruited well, spent a bit of money and will benefit from blooding their youngsters last season.
“Fremantle and Rockingham? I’ve heard both teams have lost a few, but they will have picked players as well. It’s going to be a big season.”
For a team that has played in the last four grand finals- and won three of them – it’s always hard to know what else they want to achieve.
But Douche is not one to rest on his laurels, he knows others will be chasing and chasing hard.
“Grand final again has to be our aim. That said, it won’t be easy.
“We may have lost a lot of quality, but we have also gained quality for this campaign.
“Im excited at the prospect.”
