WHEN Peter Koen is asked to describe the experience of coaching CSU's New Holland Cup side in 2019, he laughs and struggles to find a word to best articulate it before coming up with 'unique'.
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But that unique season has lured the vastly experienced mentor back for another campaign and this time Koen will be head coach of CSU.
Dave Conyers, who had a heart operation late last year and a knee replacement performed on Monday, has stepped aside after guiding CSU to a 30-29 win in last year's grand final against Narromine.
Koen, who first met Conyers in the 1980s as part of Parramatta's Shute Shield team, acted as assistant and backs coach in that campaign. It is one he will not soon forget.
"I'm a school teacher, so for many years I've taught and for many years I've coached. I've got more than one year season per winter, I've travelled a bit and coached all year around," he said.
"Coaching CSU - well let's says it was unique.
"I remember my first training session and there were about eight blokes sitting in the dugout on the bench there and I thought 'Is this all we've got? Sheesh, what's going on here?'. But then over the hill came another 40.
"There were times there when Dave and I were on the sideline together and we looked at each other, we didn't say anything but our faces sort of said 'God help us.' They were hot and cold, but we came good at the right end of the season, we were consistent at the right end of the year."
Come good at the right end of the year is exactly what CSU did. The students' first XV had not won a premiership in 15 years and had lost 50-10 and 57-10 in two prior games against Narromine at Cale Oval - the venue for the grand final.
In the grand final itself, CSU was down by 19 points at half-time before launching a successful comeback that rates as one of the biggest highlights in the club's history.
But Koen revealed he did have another nervous moment after the final siren sounded.
"I was leaning against the fence there and the whistle went and everyone went berserk, all the supporters ran onto the field," he said.
"Dave had had a little bit of trouble with his health, so I was watching him, I thought I'd keep my eye on him. He did everything but a cartwheel, then he looked to the heavens and shook both arms as he rejoiced and then he dropped to his knees and fell flat to his face.
"I thought 'Oh my God, I'm going to have to administer life-sustaining first aid.'"
I'm really excited after last year, winning is contagious, I want to continue on from last year.
- Peter Koen
Fortunately it was all part of Conyers' celebration and Koen was then free to fully relished what had been achieved.
"I've been fortunate I've been able to coach and play in some winning teams in years gone by and this was another one, but it was unique. Dave and I met up for the first time in a lot of years, we put our heads together, I think we worked well together and the players responded," he said.
"We got pumped a couple of times in the season which was tough, then in the grand final we had to come back in the second half. It was amazing, I was really happy for them as I think for a lot of the guys, it might have been their first premiership win."
This season has already shaped up very differently - even before Koen's men have played a game. The impact of the coronavirus means teams will play over 10 rounds and then the top two will go on to meet in the grand final.
There is also the impact of CSU having online classes, but Koen remains optimistic, saying the club has "a wonderful spirit".
"Like a lot of clubs we obviously had to start again, but the spirit is high," he said. "I'm really excited after last year, winning is contagious, I want to continue on from last year ... the camaraderie they have, I reckon that helps with team sport.
"I'm pretty sure Narromine will come out and be keen to clean us up this year, but I'm hoping we are ready for it.
"I'm just thankful the boys get an opportunity to play. I think Matt Tink - I don't know how many hours he's put in or what he's done to get this competition up and running, but he's spoken to every club. Good on him, some competitions aren't even going ahead, so I think it's a credit to Central West Rugby and Matt Tink that we've got this happening."
