Central Coast Rugby Union: Terrigal Trojans eye off clean sweep in 2025

After winning three of four premierships on offer during a golden 2024, the Terrigal Trojans have their sights set on a loftier goal this season in the Central Coast Rugby Union.

The Terrigal Trojans have started 2025 well after taking out last year’s Central Coast Rugby Union first grade grand final. Picture: Central Coast Rugby Union

2024 was a golden year for the Terrigal Trojans.

Undefeated premiers in first grade, undefeated premiers in reserve grade and joint premiers in thirds after a 12-all draw with The Lakes in the grand final, the only piece of silverware the club didn’t get its hands on was the women’s premiership, which was taken out by Lake Macquarie.

With an incredibly high standard set, the Trojans have picked up exactly where they left off.

After just two rounds of the 2025 season, the club has won seven of its eight games across all four grades, scoring a combined 325 points and conceding just 71.

“It’s only two rounds into the season, there’s a long way to go, but we’ve had a successful start and it’s on the back of a really strong pre-season that we put in place,” said president Dave Appleby. “We knew that we had to raise the bar this season and that’s what we’re trying to do.”

The Trojans also went through last season undefeated in reserve grade. Picture: Central Coast Rugby Union

When it comes to raising the bar, there’s not much further that the Trojans can go as only a clean sweep of all four grades would see it improve on last season.

“That’s our goal this year: to try and bring those other two teams (third grade and women’s) up to the premiership level,” said Appleby.

“My personal view is that I’d like us to do that, I think we have the ability. However there are some really strong teams in the comp in the likes of Ourimbah and Avoca in the senior grade and Woy Woy is building. They’re going to be big challenges for us.”

Indeed, after having enjoyed such a successful 2024, the club knows there are unique challenges ahead if it is to improve on its results.

“Externally, you’ve got a target on your back because everyone is wanting to knock you off,” said Appleby.

“But internally we want to consolidate and challenge ourselves to go to the next level to maintain that. Maintaining it is probably the hardest thing to do because you’ve got the good results. But to be able to get good results year upon year is what we’re trying to do.”

While it is often difficult to define what makes certain clubs strong, Appleby has a few explanations behind Terrigal’s excellent run in recent years.

“Success breeds success. We’ve had some good success on the field so we are an attractive option for players who may relocate to the area,” he said.

“But I think it’s through coming up with a fairly structured plan on how we want to run our off-season. We have connection days, which are about getting all the players together and getting them to work as one unit.

“We’ve always had a really strong junior base so we’re mindful of giving them opportunities. Most of our first grade starting line-up now are juniors that have started off at the club. So it’s all about offering a good program, retention is key and keeping them engaged within the club, which is why we do team-building in the pre-season.”

Indeed, one of the key factors bedrock behind the Trojans’ success has been its under-18s side.

Following the collapse of the Central Coast under-18s grade in recent years, the Trojans have competed in the Hunter competition, which has allowed their young guns to remain in the game and provide a stepping stone between juniors and senior grade rugby.

“That’s super important for us, that transition age group in our club,” said Appleby.

“We’ve been able to grow that area within our club and we had no option other than to take them to the Hunter comp so they can continue playing and continue their rugby pathways. It gives them exposure to higher representative honours and things like that.”

And while the season is only two rounds old, Terrigal is keeping its aspirations high.

“I think our goal is to perform to the best of our ability,” said Appleby. “Obviously I’d love to see all four senior teams get a premiership. That’s a fairly lofty goal but you don’t want to aim low, you want to aim high and try and rise to the top.”