Renes named Swords head coach

John Renes will continue as head coach the Northern Swords rugby league side through the 2016 NZRL National Competition.

A reward for his positive off-field work, Renes was successful in building a team culture of pride, brotherhood and belief throughout the 2015 campaign.

Renes was elated with his reappointment.

"I'm absolutely stoked," he said.

"It's an honour to represent the region and to try play a part in the development of the game in Northland."

Despite going winless in 2015, Renes believes it was a successful year on the field.

"It's the best year the Swords have had since its inception," he said.

"Back in 2013 we had one win and came close to matching it when we played Wellington.

"We also had our best points differential since we began."

Along with Renes, Jack Waller and Edward Irving have also been reappointed as Assistant Coach/Trainer and Team Manager respectively. Renes said the management team was one of the reasons for their off-field success last year.

"There was lots of experience there with Irving and Waller, Waller being a former Swords player," he said.

"None of us had senior club ties. This made it easier for players to be open to the type of team we wanted to build and the type of game we wanted to play."

A change of training venue to Moerewa was another reason for their successes because it made it easier for squad members from further north to make training.

Their goals remain similar to last season and they have taken a leaf out of the All Black's playbook.

"Their mantra around selection is 'Better people make better All Blacks' so we will look to emulate that," he said.

The 2016 campaign kicks off on August 21 against Bay of Plenty at Whangarei Arena in Kensington.

The revised three-tier format will see the Northern Swords play against Bay of Plenty, Coastlines and Waikato, who they'll have to defeat in order to advance to the next tier.