CHRIS Trutwein has big shoes to fill as he takes over at the helm of the Hastings Valley Vikings.
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Trutwein has replaced David Barnes in the president's role after the club's annual general meeting on Sunday.
It will be his fourth year in charge at the club. Trutwein led the Vikings from 2006-2008.
The former second rower has a long history at Hastings Valley. He was recruited by Vikings legend David McCormack and played in the green, black and gold from 2000-2003.
Trutwein was confident in a strong committee which would do a great job leading the Vikings in the future.
Brent Horan is the vice president. Lee Riske will take on the treasurer's role and Gil Hopley is secretary.
Mark Howard, Dale Randall, Rick Averillo, David Tunstead, Jen Taylor and Jono Tunks are the general committee.
Trutwein looked forward to jumping into the role.
"It was an easy decision to make, with these people standing up to support me," he said.
"Barnesy had a tremendous group around him, a lot I've retained."
He paid tribute to his predecessor for a tremendous job well done. Barnes oversaw four grand final wins, in first and reserve grades, in his two years at the top. "I'm hoping to replicate that success," Trutwein said.
That starts with appointing a new coach for the 2016 season.
That person will also have a tough job in replacing Andrew Kable.
Kable has pulled the pin on coaching the seniors to oversee his son's success in the game.
"He's been a revelation for our club," Trutwein said of Kable.
"It's sad to see him take a backward step, but I'd expect we'd have him back in a senior role in years to come."
Trutwein echoed many of the rugby fraternity's comments about the Wauchope Thunder joining the upper Mid-North Coast zone.
Thunder last week made the decision to join the Vikings and Port Macquarie Pirates in the upper competition.
"It's awesome, absolutely awesome," he said.
"It puts a bigger focus on rugby in the Hastings area. There's a local derby every second weekend."
"I think it's a great thing."
New committee member Tunks is keen to get involved with the running of the club despite not yet pulling on the Vikings' jersey.
That highlights what a good clubman Tunks will be.
Trutwein was excited about what he could achieve on the field.
"He's not the sort of bloke I'd want running at me, full speed," he said.
