The former Bathurst Penguins enforcer, who was one of the first players to rack up 100 appearances for the club at the top level, takes control at one of the most consistently strong Group 10 reserve grade sides of recent years.

The premier league and under 18s coaches will remain unchanged, roles filled by Doug Hewitt and John Fearnley respectively.

"It's where it all started for me and it's good to be back there,” Fardell said.

"I just wanted to give back to where it all began.”

He arrives at Panthers following a testing 2018 campaign for Portland in Group 10 New Era Cup, stopped just shy of a finals series appearance.

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Fardell had equal focus on both on and off-field roles during his time at Colts.

"It was good there. We worked at the culture of the club,” he said.

"We brought the club back into a positive light instead of a negative one and that was really good to see.”

Fardell is inheriting a fearsome Panthers squad.

The team have never finished outside of the top three on the ladder across their past eight seasons, making them one of the most consistent units not just in rugby league but over any Central West sport.

Fardell’s eager to meet his side and crack into the pre-season as the new year approaches.

"We'll be starting up after Christmas. I'll be having a meeting with Dougie and we'll be talking about what we want to do looking ahead,” he said.

"Dougie seems to have the exact same beliefs in football that I have, which is a bit uncanny. 

"We hadn't run into each other before this year but it's great to work with someone who shares those beliefs.”

Panthers president Dennis Comerford is excited to have Fardell come on board.

“He’s very keen to get amongst it. He wants to further his coaching career. He has coached at Western Rams level before, so here’s got knowledge from there,” he said.

“First division is probably the hardest coaching job of the lot because you don’t know who you’ve got from one week to the next. Darrin realises that’s what makes it a tough job but he’s an older head who can accept that.

“We’ve young a fairly young reserve grade side for a few years now and they’ve been one of our better performing sides over the years.”

Comerford said Fardell takes the reins at what’s one of the more youthful first divisions squads.

“It’s good you’ve got a coach who is accepting of having younger players and looking to bring them through,” he said.

“Our first division side has probably been one of the best teams across Group 10 for a number of years and we want to keep that going.

“I think that’s a testament to our stance we took some years ago where we wanted our younger fellas to come through and play in the senior ranks, so when they come out of under 18s they are going to get games in first division. It’s an approach that’s worked for us and Darrin’s aware of that.”