Dane Sherratt jokes that he has been compared to Johnny Farnham. The 33-year-old South African-born flyhalf has come out of retirement for what might be his fourth or fifth comeback, aiming to steer an exciting young University side to a Hunter Rugby premiership.
Sherratt returned in the Students' 51-16 rout over Southern Beaches on Anzac Day and will again lead the team against Wanderers at No.2 Sportsground on Saturday. He last hung up the boots after helping guide the Students to the finals in 2023, then switched to coaching and enjoyed two seasons on Josh Meads' football staff at University.
"I have a young family and also host a YouTube rugby show Kick-on, which takes up quite a bit of time," Sherratt said. But when he learned that recruited South African flyhalf Tim Townsend had changed plans, the situation shifted. "When I got the call, I was standing at the end of my driveway and looking at the phone like, Noooooo! He was the type of player - a game-managing 10 - that we needed."
His wife immediately knew what was coming. "My wife looked at me, and she goes: 'you are thinking of playing aren't you?' And I was like, yes."
Sherratt, along with Josh Meads and Dylan Heins, has been working with the squad for four years, both coaching and playing. "We've built it up nicely. You want results from it. I'm keen as. Mainly because of the squad that we've got. There is so much excitement, so much potential."
He sees himself as the missing link at flyhalf. "A 10 was the missing link. I'm not saying I'm the missing link or the last piece of the puzzle, but I can definitely help." With University boasting a big, bruising pack, Sherratt expects time and space to pull the strings. "They were all happy that I'm back and I told them: 'You realise you guys are going to have to tackle a lot more now.'"
Sherratt came through his first game unscathed and believes he will improve with more game time. "I've actually been surprised how quickly I've recovered from the tightness and that. That's a good sign. It will take a couple of games to get my timing and get used to the contact again."
University has two wins from three starts this season. "I've been around Hunter Rugby for a long time, and right now, Uni is the team that I wouldn't want to face," Sherratt said. "That's a strength and a weakness because you don't know what Uni is going to rock up. We have been very inconsistent for the past couple of years. The boys have spoken about that. We don't want to get to the end of the season and hope for other teams' results to determine whether we make the finals. We want to put ourselves in a good spot."
Meanwhile, Wanderers welcome back Andrew Tuala after the block-busting front-rower answered an SOS from the Hunter Wildfires. Tuala played the opening three games for the Wildfires in the Shute Shield after injuries to hookers Phil Bradford and Bruce Kauika-Petersen. He will pack down at loosehead against the strong University scrum.
"Getting AT back is huge," Wanderers coach Luke Sherwood said. "He has added a lot this week at training with his talk and leadership in the forwards. People around him lift when he is out there. Having spent the past three weeks at the Wildfires, he has been playing at a higher level. He brings that attitude and mentality back to club rugby."
Wanderers are coming off a tough loss to Merewether (31-14) but also welcome back Ngarhue Jones. "It has been a similar start to last season," Sherwood said. "We have been in a lot of games, but a couple of lapses and poor execution has cost us. We are seeing good signs and are tracking in the right direction. We just need to tidy up little bits and pieces and get that winning mentality back."
English prop Max Marshall will make his debut for Hamilton against Merewether at Townson Oval despite Chris Hemi escaping suspension. Hemi was given a red card for striking in the Hawks' 39-21 loss to Maitland last round. He pleaded guilty and the judiciary deemed the send-off was sufficient punishment. However, Hemi is yet to be cleared to play by Kurri Kurri after signing a contract with the Newcastle Rugby League and has not been selected by the Hawks.
Marshall arrived last week from England where he played for the Rams in the National One competition. He joins countrymen Ben Plummer (centre) and Archie Bees (fullback) in a new-look Hamilton side. Merewether have been unstoppable, winning the opening three games by an average scoreline of 36-17. In the other game, Maitland host Southern Beaches at Marcellin Park.
