MATT Shipway hasn't coached or played one game in the Group 3 competition this year but he has been named assistant coach of the representative side.
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The international league player will assist last year's coach Phil Trembath. Trembath, who is the Port Macquarie Sharks president, was offered the role of head coach after last year's successful campaign.
He was the one who called for Shipway's appointment.
"We'd be silly not to take the experience that he can bring to the table," Trembath said.
"We haven't spoken to much about it but we sit down and nut a few things out soon. "Having Shipway on board will suit perfectly, he can take on that on field role and I'll look after everything else."
The Group 3 representative side will be selected from the competition's pre season event with preliminary games played on Saturday and Sunday, March 14 and 15. The final will take place the following Saturday at Wauchope. Group 3 will then take on Group 2 at Coffs Harbour on Saturday, May 2.
The successful side's coach will then go on to coach the North Coast side made up of players from both Groups.
The Group 3 competition proper kicks off on April 11 with a massive local derby as the Sharks take on the Port City Breakers.