Simon Petelo has been around rugby union for roughly four decades, having played and coached in numerous countries around the world.
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He's seen a lot of knows a massive amount about the game.
But when he attended his first Dubbo Kangaroos game after moving to town last year, he experienced something he didn't expect.
"Having coached in the city, I didn't realise just how passionate people are in the country," he said.
Petelo will get a first-hand look at that passion all around the region this season after signing on as the Roos' head coach for the 2019 Blowes Clothing Cup season.
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Having grown up in New Zealand, rugby is in Petelo's blood and his playing career included a stint playing professionally for Bordeaux in France.
Coaching then became the focus and he's spent the past 18 years in Sydney, coaching both club and schoolboy rugby.
The Roos present a whole new challenge, but it's one Petelo is relishing and he can't wait to put his own spin on things at the Dubbo powerhouse.
"I think I've got a lot to contribute to the game and the game is always evolving so we've got always work on how we can become better players and also in coaching, you've got to challenge yourself," he said, before speaking about his style of rugby.
"Being a New Zealander, our rugby is very confrontational and aggressive but it's also expansive and we like to let the ball go and take our opportunities when they present themselves.
"But we like to set the basics well and have that great foundation of our set piece and scrummaging and lineouts. That's really important in any level of rugby.
"We'll look at what level of cattle we've got and utilise the old players as well as younger players coming through. We'll help them develop and become better players."
Petelo will be assisted by Vince Gordon and Mark Baldwin this season, the latter unlikely to play in 2019 following an ACL injury early in his debut season with the Roos last year.
The pre-season is ramping up now and the new coach has been delighted by the strong turnout at training week in, week out.
A registration night is on Friday while a trial match for a senior side, colts, and the newly formed women's side will be held on Saturday week, March 16.
That will mark the start of the club's second season working under director of rugby Beau Robinson, and Petelo has been thrilled to work under the one-time Wallaby.
"He's set a platform for professionalism," Petelo said.
"Players have had to reevaluate structure and set pieces and I want to continue to do that and bring in a gameplan that will work for all players."
The development of Robinson's plan as well as the new head coach and new Kangaroos president in Gerald Webster has created a real sense of excitement around the club.
"There's a new direction but we'll keep the passion of this club going," Petelo said.
"We've got a lot of talent at our club and we just want to do the right thing by them.
"We want to utilise their skill-sets and put them in a position to do well and go on to bigger and better things."
The registration night will be held at the Dubbo Kangaroos clubhouse at No. 1 Oval from 6.30pm on Friday night.