James Kora to lead experienced Albury-Wodonga Steamers coaching group

Long-time senior assistant James Kora has stepped up to the top job for the first time, with Nathan Bright his deputy, while James Foster is in charge of the second grade and John Wantling will lead the women.

Kora said he prefers to coach behind the scenes, but securing Bright as an assistant made him feel more at ease with taking on the role.

"Over the last few years it's sort of been a one-man show trying to coach the two teams (firsts and seconds), so we came up with a plan to change that and Nathan Bright put up his hand to say he was willing to join the team," Kora said.

"Nathan will help keep us calm, he's a pretty level-headed guy so if he finds me going off the rails I'm sure he'll talk me back in the right direction (laughs)

"Once he got the green light, we chased up John and he was keen to coach the women and James was keen to do the seconds.

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"We came up with a plan about how we want to attack it and it's all about getting the players together and selling it to them."

Kora and the rest of the coaches will sit down with the players on November 30 and start to lay the foundations for the 2021 season.

The Steamers fielded second grade and women's sides in a shortened 2020 season due to COVID-19, falling in the decider to Leeton.

Kora will take plenty from that experience into next year, especially the emergence of the younger talent.

"There's quite a few young guys that have developed well this year and we want to continue that," he said.

"Young Seb Benson wouldn't normally play first grade, but to watch him have a full year in second grade was really good. It's looking pretty exciting for next year."

Kora said the onus will be on the players to push for ultimate success.

"They had a taste of a grand final this year, do they want to taste of it again next year? Our main goal is to have all three teams in the grand final," Kora added.

"If we get one team there it's half a tick, if we get two teams in there it's two ticks and if we get three teams in there we'll be delighted."