So much so, the decorated five-eighth, who in 2016 won the Newcastle Rugby League’s best and fairest, has signed off on a new deal that will keep him in charge of the two blues for until at least the end of the 2020 Group 10 season.

Knocking back initial advances from a raft of clubs from the powerhouse Newcastle competition Heta tore up two seasons ago, as well as those from bush clubs across the state, the 32-year-old has declared he intends on leading Hawks to the club’s first top grade premiership since 2003, and hopes the two blues’ impressive stock of juniors can help him achieve that goal.

Heta’s commitment to the club comes on the back of an incredible first round where he led Hawks to the top of the Group 10 ladder – despite being drawn seven away games in the opening eight rounds.

The two blues host Bathurst Panthers at Wade Park on Sunday.

“We’ve got some good recruits and some very good local talent, my wife and I enjoy the town … we made the decision together, the club is going well, the committee is good and we made the decision based on that,” Heta said.

“I made this my main priority and focus for the next couple of years.

“A bit of security for myself and my wife is a bit of a no-brainer. Mark Johnston our president is fantastic, and I wanted to stick by him which is what he’s done for me.”

A three-time premiership winner with Group Nine club Albury Thunder as well as a title winner with South Newcastle in 2016, success follows the silky smooth half and Hawks will be hoping his stay in Orange nets similar results.

Heta says there’s no reason a premiership can’t be won, highlighting the promise in juniors like Brodie Christopherson, Nathan Potts, Jake Blimka, Jack Aumuller and, most recently, boom backrower Talon Hodge.

“You’ve got to show them there’s a pathway, and if they’re seeing success there they’re going to want to be part of it,” he said.

“We’ve got the seniors going down to the younger (Bloomfield) sides’ training and games, so they’re seeing the faces and they know they’re part of the club as well.”

Heta’s Hawks will be without giant prop Saul Houma and, potentially, fullback Jake Blimka as well, should the livewire custodian not recover from a rib injury.

Both leave giant holes in the two blues’ line-up, but with a table-topping first division side to draw on the club looks in good shape.

“Of course, things are looking good right now, but it’s hard to get up the ladder and easy to fall down it,” Heta warned ahead of the Panthers game.

“We know they’ll come out strong as well, it’ll be a tough encounter.”

Sunday’s games kick-off at 10am at Wade Park.