Anyone who wondered if incoming head coach Darren Coleman would be able to turn the ship around at Gordon in just six months, can happily read the positives in a narrow 31-27 loss to Southern Districts in their first hit-out of the season on Saturday.

A week sure is a long time in footy. Eight days prior to stepping out for Eastern Suburbs in last Saturday’s opening round of the Intrust Super Shute Shield, flyhalf Mack Mason had been pulled from the field after just 56 minutes for the Waratahs, in their shock loss to the Sunwolves in Newcastle.

Post-match reaction from both camps with Pauli Taumoepeau and Robert Taylor.