Marco Caputo walks away from the Gungahlin Eagles with "a feeling of what might have been".
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"But I think every club has got that at the moment with the way things finished up. It is what it is," the outgoing Eagles head coach said after lockdowns in ACT and NSW forced the cancellation of the John I Dent Cup with one round still to play.
Three John I Dent Cup clubs will have a new head coach at the helm next season with Gungahlin, Wests and Canberra Royals all on the hunt for new mentors.
Caputo exits Gungahlin after three seasons, Wayne Southwell leaves Royals after a glittering coaching career boasting five premierships across two clubs, and Wests, who were led by Adam Butt, are now seeking expressions of interest for the head coaching role.
Eagles officials have been overwhelmed by an impressive list of candidates looking to fill Caputo's role for the 2022 campaign.
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While the ultimate premiership success eluded Caputo, he has guided a handful of players out of Canberra club rugby and into the professional scene in what shapes as a major factor in his lasting legacy.
"That's something that is really pleasing. Guys that had ability but for whatever reason [hadn't kicked on], giving them an environment that allowed them to put their best foot forward, and a team that played positive footy," Caputo said.
"All those guys that have kicked on, Callum MacDonald last year, Tamati Ioane, Tom Haddad to Japan, Joey [Caputo] to Italy, it's really pleasing to see the guys that had ability and showed promise, they can take opportunities and there is a future in the game at the next level.
"Looking at the big picture, we have done some good things. We've won two club championships, and while we didn't get a first grade premiership, we've been able to knock off a few second grade premierships, third grade premierships, and colts have been competitive all the way through.
"The most pleasing thing is bringing those guys through, the guys that started as colts when I walked in on day one, and now establishing themselves as first graders."
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