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PLENTY has changed since Albury Thunder coach Josh Cale first walked in the doors of the Border’s rugby league club in late 2008.
For starters — it was called Lavington Panthers.
But the club’s transformation under the former Sydney Roosters front-rower has been far from in name only.
Cale, who will step down after six seasons at the helm tomorrow, has helped turn a middle-of-the-road club into Group 9’s biggest force both on the field, and off it.
“You wouldn’t think it’s the same club,” Cale said this week ahead of his final game.
“The name change was a big step forward.
“It’s been a great move with our fans and sponsors.
“We’ve got a really good supporter base.”
It’s taken plenty of different people, and plenty of different things, to push the Thunder to the forefront off the field.
But on it, there has been one major change that has led to the club’s rise.
“The level of professionalism has gone up,” Cale said.
“When I first started, the effort was there but not the dedication.
“We were known as the side that was tough to beat at home but couldn’t win on the road.
“A lot of that was between the ears.
“We were lucky enough to have some players come into the club who brought a lot.
“Benny (Jeffery), Lou Goodwin, Willie Heta and Mitch Davis have all been at high levels and that professionalism has bred through the club.
“The local guys have taken things to a new level now and aren’t just turning up, playing and going home any more.
“They are doing the extras in the gym, working together and you need all that to have a good side.”
While it has been a transformation that has taken years of tireless work from those involved with the club, Cale said there was still one moment he remembered most when it came to the proverbial penny dropping.
“There was a knockout final in 2011 where Cootamundra smashed us by about 30 points,” Cale said.
“We’d given them a touch-up at home the week before but finals came around and they gave us a hiding.
“Being bush footy, I didn’t want to go too over the top, but we were only kidding ourselves if we kept doing things the same.
“We started the pre-season in November, had a couple of sessions before Christmas, threw in some extra sessions for three months and things started to turn around.
“We won it the next year.”
Not only did the Thunder win it that year, they won it the year after and are looking to make it three in a row tomorrow as Cale calls curtains on easily the club’s greatest coaching stint.
Has it sunk in that it’s going to be his final game at the helm?
“I haven’t really thought or spoken about it, to be honest,” Cale said.
“I’m more worried about getting the win.
“I’m sure it will hit me like a ton of bricks after the game, six years is a long time, but all I’m worried about is getting the boys ready.”
Six years is definitely a long time when you consider Cale only planned on staying for one.
“I’d never been to Albury and the plan was to get a year under the belt coaching and then probably head back,” he confessed.
“It was a good opportunity to see how things went.
“But six years later and I haven’t left.”
How would he like to be remembered?
“I’d like to think the club is in better shape on and off the field,” Cale said.
It’s fair to say he’s achieved that.
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