Jake Wheeler and Shannon Ellem will be the on-field leaders, with Jamie Moorehead overseeing from the sideline.

Wheeler has been co-captain-coach for the past two years, while Moorehead was in charge of Wingham in 2017 and assistant coach at Taree City in 2016. This will be Ellem’s senior coaching debut. He joined Old Bar last season from Wingham and captained the Group Three and North Coast under 23s.

“Jamie will oversee the coaching,’’ Wheeler explained.

“We’re looking to blood Shannon into the coaching role. Next year will be my last (as a coach), I’ll be looking to take more of a backseat role.’’

The Pirates bowed out in the elimination semi-final this year when beaten by eventual premiers Port Macquarie. After starting the season in promising fashion Wheeler conceded his side fell away in the latter stages and was struggling for player numbers toward the end of the campaign.

He confirmed the Pirates have re-signed indefatigable second rower Carlos Kuhu-Martin and centre/five-eighth Percy King, who were two additions this year.

“Percy will be going back to New Zealand for Christmas but we expect him back in the New Year,’’ he said.

The Pirates were grand finalists in under 18.5s this year and Wheeler is confident the club will retain a nucleus of those players to graduate into the senior ranks.

“Some of them will be going to uni in Newcastle but they want to travel home to play for us, so that’s a boost,’’ he added.

Josh Starr, a utility forward who has previously played for the club has signed. He played on the Central Coast last season.

Wheeler said the club is looked at further strengthening the roster.

“But it depends on jobs and accommodation –  there’s only so much you can do,’’ he said.

The Pirates usually begin training in early January, however, Wheeler said could be reviewed.

“We started early this year and that might have been one of the reasons we were struggling for players at the end of the season,’’ he said.

The club has finalised coaching positions. Shane Glass has charge of reserve grade, Darrin Dark, Andrew Wilkes and Lee Hoeweth under 18s and Lee Hinton and Nigel Lyons women’s league tag.

“We’ll all get together soon and map out a plan for next year,’’ Wheeler said.