After locking out the women’s league tag grand final and earning a berth in the men’s decider – going down to the Blackheath Blackcats – it’s going to take something special to get the Mungoes their desired double but the club’s feeling confident following their recent coaching announcement.

At the helm of the men’s team this year will be co-coaches Billy Dickinson and Jacob Watkin.

Dickinson and Watkin are the two remaining players in the starting side who boast at least three years of experience with the club.

CSU Mungals Yellow will be headed by Phil Tuilau and the Blue squad is being run by Oscar Thorburn.

CSU men went down 50-20 in last year’s grand final to an undefeated Blackheath side.

But with the bulk of the squad expected to return for a new season of football Dickinson is excited to see how the club fares.

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“We’re definitely looking at getting to another grand final. We’ve lost a few players but we’ve kept most of our core, which is really handy,” he said.

“We’re used to the quick turnaround of players. We’ve only lost Oscar Thorburn, Brad Rushby and James Woolmington from the starting team. 

“We’re very excited to see who we’re going to get with all the new uni students.”

The coaching partnership has been in the works for some time.

“Jacob and I had been talking for a while and that was probably done in December, then we were waiting back on who would like to coach the girls,” Dickinson said.

“Phil had done it two years ago and Oscar obviously did it last year so it’s great to have them on board again.”

Thorburn’s playing days with CSU are done but he’s keen to help out in a different capacity.

“I had time of my life doing it last year with the help of Billy, who will be helping me as well as coaching the boys side. I’ve got a good relationship with Phil so we’re working together to get a fair split of teams like we did last year,” he said.

“We want the girls to be having fun again, more than anything, and if we can be competitive then that’s a great double whammy.”

Like the men’s side it’s difficult to ascertain how strong the numbers will be because of the university turnover but Thorburn is expecting a positive turnout.

“That’s our disadvantage compared to other clubs, but in saying that I’m sure most of the girls who are still students will be coming back. I don’t have any indication of anyone pulling out,” he said.

“Retention rate is always great at Mungoes, much like other clubs at the university, because we keep the emphasis on having fun.”

Yellow won last year’s grand final 14-0 over Blue.