Chastened by last year's losing season, Waratahs coach Darren Coleman won't be making any bold proclamations as NSW prepare for their first trial match of 2024 on Saturday.
The likeable Coleman talked a big preseason game in 2023, telling Wide World of Sports that NSW "should be the LA Lakers of rugby" among other headline worthy quotes.
The Waratahs went on to finish sixth on the Super Rugby Pacific ladder but their 6-8 record was mediocre compared to the fifth placed Hurricanes (9-5) and other serious title contenders.
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NSW was bounced out of the quarter-finals 41-12 by the Blues and Coleman is taking a softly, softy approach 12 months on.
"I potentially copped a bit of slack on that last year," Coleman told 2GB's WWOS Radio.
"We trumpeted pretty hard that we wanted to be in the top four and we didn't get there and some people sort of used that against us a bit. So no big statements. You don't have to be Einstein – if we want to finish better than sixth, there's only five spots to finish in above it.
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"So our goal is to start well. We didn't do that well last year. So we want to get off to a good start and build as we go.
"And we all know that the position rugby's in at the moment, it's quite precarious. We've got a really big responsibility, as the biggest city in Australia, to perform and to get people back here and start getting some positive stories out there about the sport."
Australia's Rugby World Cup flop had a silver lining for Coleman as the club's Wallabies returned to training at Daceyville before Christmas.
"To be honest, '23 was a little disappointing for us. We obviously finished the exact same spot (as 2022) – sixth on the ladder – and bombed out in the first week of the playoffs. We were hoping to progress forward, to be honest."
The Waratahs have a relatively settled squad with Michael Hooper's switch to sevens and Ben Donaldson's transfer to the Force the most notable losses.
Coleman was pleased to bolster his tight five stocks with props Tom Ross (Brumbies) and Hayden Thompson-Stringer (La Rochelle), hooker Theo Fourie (Rebels) and locks Miles Amatosero (Clermont) and Fergus Lee-Warner (Bath).
Coleman was also confident that NRL-bound winger Mark Nawqanitawase would have another big campaign following off-season knee surgery and a high profile deal with the Roosters.
"We spoke a lot through that period," Coleman said.
"My intention was to retain him and we want him here but he's made his decision, we respect that. We've become pretty close. I do wish him well. I wish he was still with us but he has handled it well.
"He's really matured, he's confident. He's got a real presence about him. He's a very special athlete and we're sad to see him go."
Coleman also confirmed that halfback Jake Gordon would continue to captain the club with support from Dave Porecki and Hugh Sinclair.
He has named a stronger than usual side for Saturday's opening trial against the Rebels in Melbourne, including Wallabies star Angus Bell.
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"The beauty of our leadership group is that it was peer elected and endorsed by the coaching staff," Coleman said.
"Our players clearly trust these three men and are willing to follow them. The coaching group have the utmost respect and faith in how these men will uphold our values and standards.
"The binding aspect of all three men is that they all care deeply for the team, the jersey and exemplify Tah toughness."
WARATAHS vs REBELS (15-1): Joey Walton, Vuate Karawalevu, Izaia Perese, Lalakai Foketi, Triston Reilly, Tane Edmed, Teddy Wilson, Langi Gleeson, Ned Slack-Smith, Lachie Swinton, Hugh Sinclair, Jed Holloway, Harry Johnson-Holmes, Dave Porecki (c), Angus Bell
Reserves: Theo Fourie, Hayden Thompson-Stringer, Daniel Botha, Miles Amatosero, Charlie Gamble/Ben Di Staso, Tom Goddard, Jack Bowen, Mosese Tuipulotu, Harry Wilson, Archie Saunders, Matt Komolafe, Sam Thomson
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