Pete Worth was planning to take a year off from the game in 2025 – until a call from seniors director Ian Wood changed his mind.
The Rockingham Sharks legend and life member knew he had to step up and help the club following the sudden departure of Ken Allen Medal winner Tom Murphy back to his native Queensland.
“Coaching (apart from helping my son Cohen’s under-15s team) was not on my radar for 2025,” he explained.
“But with Tommy leaving and Pete Williams standing down I had to say yes, when asked.”
‘Pumps’ to his mates, a nickname he thinks came about in his younger playing days because he wasn’t afraid to pump a few fists, took on the role – a role he openly admits is a bit of a club rebuild.
The Sharks of 2025 will look very different to the team that went one game short of a grand final appearance last year.
With Tom Murphy and captain Keelyn Tuuta-Edwards both gone (the latter also back to Qld), no big Sam Pera, Andrew Jeffery retiring and Kelvin Coleman signing for Willagee, the Sharks are looking to give their Under-17s winning team the chance to step up and show what they can do in senior football – and Worth, so far, has liked what he has seen.
Tom Murphy returned home to QLD in the off season
“There’s five kids who have caught the eye in pre-season, Rihare (Te Rauna) Trey (Emery), Crockett (Henry), Weylan (Antonelli) and Jahkayes (Mabbett). They are hungry and I think they will be good enough,” Worth said.
“They have stepped up and their enthusiasm has really rubbed off on other players, especially some of the older ones. They have impressed me massively.”
New club captain Ben Bolth has been at the club since moving west from Newcastle in 2017 and his leadership on the field will be a bonus – as will the addition of new import, England Lions skipper Chris Siddons.
It was Siddons who led the Lions to their series victory over WA last spring and his addition is another reason Worth believes his new-look side could make their mark as the season progresses.
Chris Siddons from the touring Lions has signed with the Sharks for 2025
“I’m hearing good things of Siddo and he and Bolthy on the field will become leaders for those young kids I’ve spoken about,” Worth said.
“I guess you could say we’re a bit of an unknown this season and that’s fine.
“We haven’’t got a trial game, but I’m going to use the first two games of the season to test out a few theories and players before we have a three week break. That will give me a real opportunity to see where we are at.”
For Worth the Rockingham connection is a real family affair. Brother Damien has played almost as many games as his older brother and sisters Sarah and Steph have both played tag and helped out in a variety of off-field roles at the club. Sarah is currently first grade team manager. Even Mum and Dad have rolled up their sleeves over the years to help out where needed.
“We’ve been a footy family since I was youngster growing up in Darwin,” Worth junior (his dad is also Pete) said.
Playing for the Palmerston Raiders before heading for Perth over 20 years agp.
‘Pumps’ made his first grade debut at 17 in 2004 and has played in three grand final losing teams, something he’d prefer not to be reminded of.
Jahkayis Mabbett is part of a talented lineup of juniors at the club
“Not easy and we had a team to win at least two of them, but it wasn’t to be on the day.”
As for the now, he knows it will take a lot of work if the Sharks he coaches can achieve a grand final appearance, and he’s ready for that.
“There’s a lot of new faces who haven’t played together, so it’s a challenge, but one I’m ready for,” he said.
“Hard work and initially a playing philosophy based on high energy defence and trust in each other. We can then build our goals around that. It might be boring footy to start with but we have get the foundation right. The combinations can come later.
“I know what I’m in for and I want the players to understand what they are in for … talking and communicating, getting our planning right and being decisive when we need to be.
“ I want to always be proud of our effort and I want to always lift our standards, that’s important.”
As for the other teams and their off-seasons, Pumps doesn’t know – he isn’t on social media, so is not watching what others are doing or who is signing for who.
“I have my hands full here, focussing on what we want to achieve. If we can get it right in-house then we can achieve a lot.”
They may be an unknown this season – or at least unknown before a ball has been kicked – but they have in Pete Worth a Rockingham man through and through and a leader who will accept nothing but 110 per cent effort from any team he coaches.
A mixture of a few older heads and a team brimming with enthusiastic young talent may just be the recipe for success at a club that has produced so many good juniors.
And to pardon the pun, it may be Worth waiting for.
