"I GOT pulled up on the golf course, was asked if I was interested, and after a couple of calls I was coaching first grade just before the start of pre-season."
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Another trip to the Bathurst Golf Club for regular adventurer to the fairways, Mick Lesberg, would unknowingly become his pathway towards coaching the Bathurst Bulldogs first grade this season.
After a decade away from the club Lesberg is back to lead the top grade side, who are looking for their way back into a grand final this year after missing out in 2020.
Lesberg might be new to the coaching game in first grade but he has previous experience leading the club's colts team.
"I've haven't been around rugby for nearly 10 years. I stopped playing in 2009, but coming back everyone seems pretty keen and everyone's got smiles on their faces, except for when they're doing some horrible running drills," he said.
"We've been training since the first Tuesday after Australia Day and we've had a reasonable turnout since then.
"We had a trial with Warringah colts on Saturday and we had a handful turnout who looked good, and it was a relief to see us go out there and play the sort of rugby that we did."
Lesberg has spent the pre-season getting to know his players.
"My knowledge of the playing group is limited. I can only go off what I've seen from training, so I wouldn't know if some have been here for 10 years or 10 minutes
"I just want to coach some footy and hopefully I get a group together that works with the way I do it."
He'll have an experienced group of mentors to work with in the Bulldogs' other teams.
Long-time first grade forward pack leader Chris Plunkett will take control of the second grade team this season.
Recent third grade premiership winners Tim Fagan and Jordan Bull take the reins of the thirds and women's teams respectively.
Lesberg said it's great to come into the first grade coaching role with such strong support.
"The trial on Saturday was a relief because it looks like we're going to have a lot of depth. We still had some players away with cricket still going," he said.
"We have a great group coaching. I played with Jordan and I played with Plunk as well. Tim I've been mates with for a long time so we've got four blokes who are all going to be happy working together."
Bulldogs go into the 2021 season as the defending second grade, third grade and women's premiers.
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