May 24, 2026 • 10 mins
Scott Eade looks at the local rugby scene as he prepares for his first NPC campaign.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Listen
Watch
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:01):
Welcome back to the Muster, Scott Heed as the coach
of the South and Staggs just taking up the role
in the last six months or so.
Speaker 2 (00:15):
Scott good afternoon, Welcome to the Muster. First he congratulations
taking on the role for arguably one of the one
of the unions that is craving success for its supporters.
Speaker 3 (00:26):
Yeah. Thanks, Andy. It's been a good six months. Busy,
probably in a different way to I guess being on
the graph, a lot of time on the laptop and
the phone. But we're, you know, we're trying to build
a I guess, a team that ourself and people are
going to be really proud of and get behind, and
we did a good job of that in the first
half of last season. But the goal and the expectation
(00:47):
is that needs to go for longer and this team
needs to go a bit deeper. So I feel like
we've sort of built a bit of a roster at
the stage that can hopefully get us, get us up
the ladder and get us in and I guess to
sustainable sort of spot where we're we're competing better and
better every year.
Speaker 2 (01:03):
So HOW'SE planning going for the season, Because we're not
too far away when you think about it.
Speaker 3 (01:07):
No, it comes around fast, isn't it. Yestid in March
and you think you've got a whole lot of time,
and then you get to the end of main we're
almost to all go. So no, it's it's been good
ones to draw come out where we could get our
sort of draft, our schedule up and how we want
to do things, and obviously the roster there was a
part of it already sorted, and we've managed to get
a good chunk out of the group back from last year,
guys that we think will really grown on in the league,
(01:29):
and some of them who we've been watching on TV
play Super Rugby and seven, so that's been good to see.
And then we've got some guys down here that are
pushing really hard to make the squad as well locally,
So I think it's so good. There's a good balance
to our group this year. They'll be a few younger faces,
but we've also got some good experience as well.
Speaker 2 (01:47):
Just how hard is it attracting players to come to
South of Them, because let's be honest, it's not a
sexy union, It's not.
Speaker 3 (01:55):
In a rights, not the easiest challenge in the world.
I've definitely rehearsed and refined the pet trug you should
call it. But now I think the biggest thing we've
got to do, mate, is we've got to make it
really our environment. And guys come out of it in
October and they go away and they talk to other
guys and they say, oh, they bloody love their time
(02:16):
and the stags and they got better as a ruggy player,
but they also had an awesome time. And part of
our thing. I think our appeal needs to be also
around the region itself. Guys who love, you know, the
outdoors get round about and guys go down and spending
that time, and then when we come and do rugby,
we we get into it. But we also don't take
ourselves too seriously. So I think I think we've got
(02:39):
to get that balance and I think that's how we
help get guys down and to be fed. As a
couple of examples where I think we've got some guys
coming into our team this year where those those sort
of stories and that have have made a positive difference.
So yeah, we'll see how we go.
Speaker 2 (02:55):
So what would you call a successful season?
Speaker 3 (02:59):
I think from what point of their I love winning
and I hate losing more than anyone, but they also
be realistic around I guess who we are as a
union and where we're trying to get to. So we're
going to win games, that's the expectation. There will be games,
will week, some challenges. So for me, it's about building
our team for the next two to three years, sending
(03:21):
some probably some good systems in the background that people
aren't going to see that will help set us up
to be a bit more or a lot more consistent
in terms of how we perform. So yeah, there's probably
a couple of things for me, and as always trying
to push players through the next level that that's got
to be the other one. So we've got some young
players who going to come in this year. I really
(03:43):
want to make sure that they are ending up in
a professional environment Super Rugby or Usual Sevens twenty twenty seven.
So that's sort of the big ones. And obviously, yeah,
get the people behind us and having a real and
the Stags team every week.
Speaker 2 (04:03):
But on the pacificat their time in Super Rugby unfortunately
looks like it's coming to an end. But there's quite
a connection between the two teams now between the Stags
and Milana.
Speaker 3 (04:13):
Yeah, it's really growing really and not not through anything.
I just guess you'd say structured or for more. It
was sort of just organically happened. I know, it started
back with Matt Saunder's a panel pushing for Mesie a
couple of years ago, and then it's sort of morphed
into game, just connections and wear in the mouth and
you get a couple more boys there, and then we
had yeah, five in the main squad and young Hokatino
(04:36):
Solinoa who's been one of their wider training players. So
it's going to be a massive shame to lose them
next year, but I said, our aim to get those
guys down here and get them into other jobs for
next year.
Speaker 2 (04:55):
Regarding club rugby here in South from Premier rugby is
rather limited. Is that a big concern?
Speaker 3 (05:01):
Yeah, it's always there's always challenges in this year. Yeah,
there's no hiding from that, mate, So I think we've
got you know, the teams have been really competitive. Blues
have had probably a couple of tough days in particular
last week. There's no hiding away from that. But what
was awesome to see them come back and be really
close with Woodlands on Saturday. Yeah, it's I think I've
(05:23):
said to you before, like it's the all around the
country that premier space is becoming challenging and it's not
a not a magic bullet around. How we how we
grow that and keep it getting better. We've got six teams.
I think that's probably the right fit for our province.
How do we make it more appealing, more attractive? But
also we got to understand that we've got an awesome
(05:45):
division at one, two and three for our communities and
our players who just want to sort of play that
next sort of level of rugby. So yeah, don't don't
have the answer to Mate, the magic answer, but it's
you're definitely something very aware of and putting a lot
of thought into and having some good conversations about.
Speaker 2 (06:01):
Yeah, based on this got a few people say there's
a bit of a disconnect between town and the country
in a rugby sense. Do you think that's the case?
Speaker 3 (06:09):
I don't think so, Mate, personally, but again I've got
my leans on it. Don't so I'm probably looking at
from a different perspective. I feel like you look at
the Eastern Northern Barbarians and the work that they've done,
and I know that they maybe don't resonate with everyone,
and that's fine, but I think the work, I think
about the work and head coaches ye A j Akins done,
(06:31):
the fact that they've really dove back into their identity
and taken their games around the clubs, which I think
is a great thing. I guess when they were founded,
when I was playing a few years ago, that that
was a big thing. They used to go around all
the clubs and play there, and I think that's awesome.
There's an initiative and I think that's how we get
that connection back as we take Premier rugby to the community.
(06:52):
So that's I guess, you know, going on a tangent,
but I think things like that are really important for
us to keep that connection that you talk about and
that trying to get try and remove that I guess
perceived barious.
Speaker 2 (07:07):
So this game is coming up on Wednesday, Scott tell
us about it.
Speaker 3 (07:11):
Yeah, so Team the group taking on team with me.
Long story short, we've played a Targo for a couple
of years there and I guess you call it a
high performance game. And then May last year, Targo pulled
out last minute unfortunately and we were left with nothing.
So we felt that we need to take that into
our own hands. Obviously, we've got the Puppy Dyke shield
for at Rugby now which features Southern Country and South
(07:34):
of Metro, so we feel they've got a real clear
identity in place. So we felt we wanted to go
with something a bit different in this particular one off game.
So Gruder and WHITTI two great Southern figures and the
tatomise what is to be a professional football player? Relatable
recognizable to our young players. So two teams, and we
also got to get four of our premiere club coaches involved.
(07:56):
There's a bit of coach development for them. We've also
had some reason our training last week. So for us
it's about giving not only our players a crack at
I guess something the next step, but also coaches and
me for reason most presson now. So yeah, we'll have it.
We'll have crack on Wednesday. Teams we'll put out tomorrow.
We just had to get everyone through Cloud Rugby on
(08:17):
Saturday and make sure there was good health. Unfortunately, we've
probably lost seven to ten players through injury, but the
next guy up and we've got some yeah, good young
players that will be in the game and some guys
who are performing really well in the first six six
rounds of Cloud rugby.
Speaker 2 (08:32):
Yeah, save as a chance and players can force themselves
into consideration on Wednesday.
Speaker 3 (08:37):
Absolutely, mate, I'm hoping. I'm hoping that's the case. And
there's particularly I think about the forwards. There's I've put
a marker out to especially our front rowers and our
props around someone go and grab it and owner and
say to us pick me. So yeah, I know this
is this is why we're having the game. We want
to see guys going against guys of a similar elk
(08:57):
and you guys going now the performance are definitely put
themselves in the bracket of being in our squad.
Speaker 2 (09:03):
So what are the dates around time of kickoff in
on Wednesday?
Speaker 3 (09:06):
You know, so we're out at Leeds George Oval pretty
good we ground so seven pm kickoff leaves George Oval.
If you've got nothing on on Wednesday, it'd be great
to have a bit of support out there for the
guys we've got one thing will be in maroon and gold.
The players that aren't yet they were can ever, we
challenge at the training tomorrow night to determine who who's
(09:28):
going to wear what playing strips, so I'm sure it'll
be a wee bit of fun and need a wee
bit of spots to it as well. So yeah, seven
pm leaves George Ovl Wednesday night should be goodnight.
Speaker 2 (09:37):
Hey, get on your Scott. Thanks for your time, we'll
catch up again. All the best for Wednesday, mate.
Speaker 4 (09:42):
I appreciate that laugh out loud with ag Proud because
life on the land can be a laughing matter. Brought
to us by sheer Well Data working to help the
livestock farmer. When a mosquito chooses your testicles for its meal,
that you learn quickly the violence is not always the answer.
(10:04):
True that that's us Ober and Dumbeth for the afternoon.
Speaker 2 (10:06):
My name is Andy Muer. The muster is brought to
you by Peter's Genetics podcast is going up shortly. We've
got some top twins, of course, the passing of James
Dane Jill's top this morning, so I think it's only
what we played some top ones, especially during tussa Country
see tomorrow.
Speaker 4 (10:25):
We don't anybody to jos, We won't ever ever plug
into the names, and we's not you
Welcome back to the Muster, Scott Heed as the coach
of the South and Staggs just taking up the role
in the last six months or so.
Speaker 2 (00:15):
Scott good afternoon, Welcome to the Muster. First he congratulations
taking on the role for arguably one of the one
of the unions that is craving success for its supporters.
Speaker 3 (00:26):
Yeah. Thanks, Andy. It's been a good six months. Busy,
probably in a different way to I guess being on
the graph, a lot of time on the laptop and
the phone. But we're, you know, we're trying to build
a I guess, a team that ourself and people are
going to be really proud of and get behind, and
we did a good job of that in the first
half of last season. But the goal and the expectation
(00:47):
is that needs to go for longer and this team
needs to go a bit deeper. So I feel like
we've sort of built a bit of a roster at
the stage that can hopefully get us, get us up
the ladder and get us in and I guess to
sustainable sort of spot where we're we're competing better and
better every year.
Speaker 2 (01:03):
So HOW'SE planning going for the season, Because we're not
too far away when you think about it.
Speaker 3 (01:07):
No, it comes around fast, isn't it. Yestid in March
and you think you've got a whole lot of time,
and then you get to the end of main we're
almost to all go. So no, it's it's been good
ones to draw come out where we could get our
sort of draft, our schedule up and how we want
to do things, and obviously the roster there was a
part of it already sorted, and we've managed to get
a good chunk out of the group back from last year,
guys that we think will really grown on in the league,
(01:29):
and some of them who we've been watching on TV
play Super Rugby and seven, so that's been good to see.
And then we've got some guys down here that are
pushing really hard to make the squad as well locally,
So I think it's so good. There's a good balance
to our group this year. They'll be a few younger faces,
but we've also got some good experience as well.
Speaker 2 (01:47):
Just how hard is it attracting players to come to
South of Them, because let's be honest, it's not a
sexy union, It's not.
Speaker 3 (01:55):
In a rights, not the easiest challenge in the world.
I've definitely rehearsed and refined the pet trug you should
call it. But now I think the biggest thing we've
got to do, mate, is we've got to make it
really our environment. And guys come out of it in
October and they go away and they talk to other
guys and they say, oh, they bloody love their time
(02:16):
and the stags and they got better as a ruggy player,
but they also had an awesome time. And part of
our thing. I think our appeal needs to be also
around the region itself. Guys who love, you know, the
outdoors get round about and guys go down and spending
that time, and then when we come and do rugby,
we we get into it. But we also don't take
ourselves too seriously. So I think I think we've got
(02:39):
to get that balance and I think that's how we
help get guys down and to be fed. As a
couple of examples where I think we've got some guys
coming into our team this year where those those sort
of stories and that have have made a positive difference.
So yeah, we'll see how we go.
Speaker 2 (02:55):
So what would you call a successful season?
Speaker 3 (02:59):
I think from what point of their I love winning
and I hate losing more than anyone, but they also
be realistic around I guess who we are as a
union and where we're trying to get to. So we're
going to win games, that's the expectation. There will be games,
will week, some challenges. So for me, it's about building
our team for the next two to three years, sending
(03:21):
some probably some good systems in the background that people
aren't going to see that will help set us up
to be a bit more or a lot more consistent
in terms of how we perform. So yeah, there's probably
a couple of things for me, and as always trying
to push players through the next level that that's got
to be the other one. So we've got some young
players who going to come in this year. I really
(03:43):
want to make sure that they are ending up in
a professional environment Super Rugby or Usual Sevens twenty twenty seven.
So that's sort of the big ones. And obviously, yeah,
get the people behind us and having a real and
the Stags team every week.
Speaker 2 (04:03):
But on the pacificat their time in Super Rugby unfortunately
looks like it's coming to an end. But there's quite
a connection between the two teams now between the Stags
and Milana.
Speaker 3 (04:13):
Yeah, it's really growing really and not not through anything.
I just guess you'd say structured or for more. It
was sort of just organically happened. I know, it started
back with Matt Saunder's a panel pushing for Mesie a
couple of years ago, and then it's sort of morphed
into game, just connections and wear in the mouth and
you get a couple more boys there, and then we
had yeah, five in the main squad and young Hokatino
(04:36):
Solinoa who's been one of their wider training players. So
it's going to be a massive shame to lose them
next year, but I said, our aim to get those
guys down here and get them into other jobs for
next year.
Speaker 2 (04:55):
Regarding club rugby here in South from Premier rugby is
rather limited. Is that a big concern?
Speaker 3 (05:01):
Yeah, it's always there's always challenges in this year. Yeah,
there's no hiding from that, mate, So I think we've
got you know, the teams have been really competitive. Blues
have had probably a couple of tough days in particular
last week. There's no hiding away from that. But what
was awesome to see them come back and be really
close with Woodlands on Saturday. Yeah, it's I think I've
(05:23):
said to you before, like it's the all around the
country that premier space is becoming challenging and it's not
a not a magic bullet around. How we how we
grow that and keep it getting better. We've got six teams.
I think that's probably the right fit for our province.
How do we make it more appealing, more attractive? But
also we got to understand that we've got an awesome
(05:45):
division at one, two and three for our communities and
our players who just want to sort of play that
next sort of level of rugby. So yeah, don't don't
have the answer to Mate, the magic answer, but it's
you're definitely something very aware of and putting a lot
of thought into and having some good conversations about.
Speaker 2 (06:01):
Yeah, based on this got a few people say there's
a bit of a disconnect between town and the country
in a rugby sense. Do you think that's the case?
Speaker 3 (06:09):
I don't think so, Mate, personally, but again I've got
my leans on it. Don't so I'm probably looking at
from a different perspective. I feel like you look at
the Eastern Northern Barbarians and the work that they've done,
and I know that they maybe don't resonate with everyone,
and that's fine, but I think the work, I think
about the work and head coaches ye A j Akins done,
(06:31):
the fact that they've really dove back into their identity
and taken their games around the clubs, which I think
is a great thing. I guess when they were founded,
when I was playing a few years ago, that that
was a big thing. They used to go around all
the clubs and play there, and I think that's awesome.
There's an initiative and I think that's how we get
that connection back as we take Premier rugby to the community.
(06:52):
So that's I guess, you know, going on a tangent,
but I think things like that are really important for
us to keep that connection that you talk about and
that trying to get try and remove that I guess
perceived barious.
Speaker 2 (07:07):
So this game is coming up on Wednesday, Scott tell
us about it.
Speaker 3 (07:11):
Yeah, so Team the group taking on team with me.
Long story short, we've played a Targo for a couple
of years there and I guess you call it a
high performance game. And then May last year, Targo pulled
out last minute unfortunately and we were left with nothing.
So we felt that we need to take that into
our own hands. Obviously, we've got the Puppy Dyke shield
for at Rugby now which features Southern Country and South
(07:34):
of Metro, so we feel they've got a real clear
identity in place. So we felt we wanted to go
with something a bit different in this particular one off game.
So Gruder and WHITTI two great Southern figures and the
tatomise what is to be a professional football player? Relatable
recognizable to our young players. So two teams, and we
also got to get four of our premiere club coaches involved.
(07:56):
There's a bit of coach development for them. We've also
had some reason our training last week. So for us
it's about giving not only our players a crack at
I guess something the next step, but also coaches and
me for reason most presson now. So yeah, we'll have it.
We'll have crack on Wednesday. Teams we'll put out tomorrow.
We just had to get everyone through Cloud Rugby on
(08:17):
Saturday and make sure there was good health. Unfortunately, we've
probably lost seven to ten players through injury, but the
next guy up and we've got some yeah, good young
players that will be in the game and some guys
who are performing really well in the first six six
rounds of Cloud rugby.
Speaker 2 (08:32):
Yeah, save as a chance and players can force themselves
into consideration on Wednesday.
Speaker 3 (08:37):
Absolutely, mate, I'm hoping. I'm hoping that's the case. And
there's particularly I think about the forwards. There's I've put
a marker out to especially our front rowers and our
props around someone go and grab it and owner and
say to us pick me. So yeah, I know this
is this is why we're having the game. We want
to see guys going against guys of a similar elk
(08:57):
and you guys going now the performance are definitely put
themselves in the bracket of being in our squad.
Speaker 2 (09:03):
So what are the dates around time of kickoff in
on Wednesday?
Speaker 3 (09:06):
You know, so we're out at Leeds George Oval pretty
good we ground so seven pm kickoff leaves George Oval.
If you've got nothing on on Wednesday, it'd be great
to have a bit of support out there for the
guys we've got one thing will be in maroon and gold.
The players that aren't yet they were can ever, we
challenge at the training tomorrow night to determine who who's
(09:28):
going to wear what playing strips, so I'm sure it'll
be a wee bit of fun and need a wee
bit of spots to it as well. So yeah, seven
pm leaves George Ovl Wednesday night should be goodnight.
Speaker 2 (09:37):
Hey, get on your Scott. Thanks for your time, we'll
catch up again. All the best for Wednesday, mate.
Speaker 4 (09:42):
I appreciate that laugh out loud with ag Proud because
life on the land can be a laughing matter. Brought
to us by sheer Well Data working to help the
livestock farmer. When a mosquito chooses your testicles for its meal,
that you learn quickly the violence is not always the answer.
(10:04):
True that that's us Ober and Dumbeth for the afternoon.
Speaker 2 (10:06):
My name is Andy Muer. The muster is brought to
you by Peter's Genetics podcast is going up shortly. We've
got some top twins, of course, the passing of James
Dane Jill's top this morning, so I think it's only
what we played some top ones, especially during tussa Country
see tomorrow.
Speaker 4 (10:25):
We don't anybody to jos, We won't ever ever plug
into the names, and we's not you
Popular Podcasts
Dolly Parton's America
In this intensely divided moment, one of the few things everyone still seems to agree on is Dolly Parton—but why? That simple question leads to a deeply personal, historical, and musical rethinking of one of America’s great icons. Join us for a 9-episode journey into the Dollyverse. Hosted by Jad Abumrad. Produced and reported by Shima Oliaee. Dolly Parton’s America is a production from OSM Audio and WNYC Studios.
Stuff You Should Know
If you've ever wanted to know about champagne, satanism, the Stonewall Uprising, chaos theory, LSD, El Nino, true crime and Rosa Parks, then look no further. Josh and Chuck have you covered.
Dateline NBC
Current and classic episodes, featuring compelling true-crime mysteries, powerful documentaries and in-depth investigations. Follow now to get the latest episodes of Dateline NBC completely free, or subscribe to Dateline Premium for ad-free listening and exclusive bonus content: DatelinePremium.com