THE Orange City Lions coaching landscape is encountering a change ahead of the 2016 Blowes Clothing Cup competition.

The two-time premiership-winning coaching combination of Mick Gray and Steve Hamson has disbanded, with Gray moving to Newcastle ahead of the next season.

Hamson will remain as a coach, but next year he’ll be joined by former captain Josh Maley.

Grand final-winning prop Nathan Short is also joining the coaching team ahead of 2016.

Lions president Steve Stone confirmed the changes at the club’s presentation last Saturday night, and said the move to introduce new blood into the mentoring roles for the club’s first grade side was to solidify its position as a Central West Rugby Union powerhouse.

“Steve’s put his hand up again,” Stone said.

“We were pretty lucky to have two level three coaches for close to five years. We’d have been silly not to make the most of that.” 

Gray and Hamson combined forces at the beginning of the 2011 season, taking the club to two premierships and last year’s grand final, a loss to Emus at Endeavour Oval.

“With Mick heading up to Newcastle things have changed, but to have a couple of young guys, guys that have played first grade and have that experience put their hands up and want to be involved is great,” Stone enthused about the inclusions of Maley and Short.

“They’ve got the respect of the playing group, which should serve them well.”

The club will confirm lower grade coaches for the 2016 season shortly, while the Lions’ annual general meeting will be held on November 23.