The newly named Bathurst Bulldogs first grade mentor for season 2012 has the Central West Rugby Union competition’s Blowes Menswear Cup on his hit list.

With the calibre of his assistant coaches Paul Miller, James McLaren, Shane Cantrill and Matt Waterford, Horsburgh believes he has the experience and players to achieve his dream.

Miller is a former Bulldogs premiership captain and co-coach, Waterford skippered NSW Country while McLaren has played rugby at the highest level as part of Scotland’s World Cup team.

Horsburgh put his hand up to take the lead role next year as did this season’s coach Murray Hooper, who guided Bulldogs to the first week of finals, but it was the younger of the two who has been given the reins.

“Murray and I have talked about it and I would like to see him help out next year, he has so much experience and I think the team can only benefit from that,” Horsburgh said.

“I was surprised to be given the role as Murray has coached first grade for the past few years and been very successful.

“He has done a lot of ground work and I want to build on that and take it another step further.

“The reality of it has not really sunken in yet, but I am already thinking of things we can do.”

Despite being a premiership winning coach, his second grade Bulldogs side winning the title in Narromine this year, Horsburgh knows the step up into the first grade coaching role will be a lot different. He is ready for the challenge and placed high expectations upon himself.

“The first and foremost is to win the competition and become club champions again, which I believe we can do,” he said.

“This [new] role will be more about player management rather than teaching and developing skills.

“In second grade you still have to develop skills, but first graders, they should know how to play rugby, and getting the players to gel together while playing their natural game is what it will be all about.”

Horsburgh has high expectations for his first grade team but also wants the club to be the pinnacle of rugby union in the Central West.

“Bulldogs are the oldest club in country NSW and in my opinion, the most well run,” he said.

“I want to take that to another level and think we can model ourselves on other amateur football clubs from Newcastle and the Hunter.

“Under my coaching style I will be monitoring player’s fitness, providing programs and be taping games.

“The club is at a high level now, but whether I stay for one year or three, I want to leave it better position than when I came in.”

The 30-year-old has always had a love of rugby, his passion growing when he played at Bathurst’s Saint Stanislaus’ College.

Horsburgh played until he broke his neck in 2004 and after that wanted to find a way he could stay in the game.

“I had to look for a different avenue to stay involved with rugby union and the Bulldogs,” he said.

“The transition has not be too hard and I enjoy the thrill of coaching, this season will be moreso as everyone wants to beat the Bulldogs.

“There is pressure, teams playing against us have nothing to lose, while we do and all teams want to knock us off.”

Horsburgh will miss his successful second grade side, but knows they are in good hands.

“Players like Shannon Felsch and Dane Fitzpatrick were wonderful this year as they both have natural leadership abilities,” he said.

“It will be different coaching first grade, but I think I am up for the challenge and just looking to get in and start.”