Scott Fardy helped steer Irish powerhouse Leinster to a fourth straight Guinness Pro-14 title in March. Now the former Wallaby wants to do the same for Merewether-Carlton.
The 36-year-old retired from professional rugby at the end of the European season in June and moved to Newcastle where his wife, Penny, has family.
He will take up a coaching position in Japan later in the year, but in the meantime is keen to have a run for Merewether.
Hunter Rugby are awaiting an international clearance for Fardy, but once processed, the former Brumby will add size, experience and nous to the Greens pack.
He had been selected at blindside breakaway for the clash against Singleton this weekend, before the competition was suspended due to a snap seven-day COVID lockdown.
"He finished up in Ireland and he is here for a while," Merewether coach Jamie Lind said. "He is a real unlikely character. If you didn't know anything about rugby, you wouldn't know he was a Wallaby. He is pretty humble.
"He has been around the club for a bit. I was showing him the training schedule, how we build up, how the selection works with 16 points in the player points system. He said 'could I play?'"
Lachy Miller will miss the Greens' next game on suspension and, although ineligible for the finals, Fardy will provide a boost on and off the field in the lead up.
"He has 39 caps for the Wallabies, played in a World Cup final ... you would be pretty crazy if you didn't take any advice from him," Lind said. "He will play in the back-row. It is an area where we have a few blokes. We have to get better and he will help us do that.
"He has achieved what he has achieved because he is a hard worker. Physically, he is not twice as big or twice as strong as anyone else in this competition, but he is smart. He has a level of maturity and nous that a bunch of 22 year old blokes don't have.
"Everyone is just hoping now that we get back on the park."
Fardy played the last of his 39 tests for Australia in 2016 and spent the past four years at Leinster, winning a European Champions Cup and four Guinness PRO14 titles
With three rounds remaining, Merewether sit on top of the ladder with 51 points and are on track for their first minor premiership since going through undefeated in 2011.
Hunter Rugby Union board are expected to meet this week to look at contingency plans if the lockdown is extended beyond a week.
Lind has advised his players to keep ticking over.
"I told them not to stress and stay safe," he said. "The boys have been training for 30 weeks so they are fit enough. They are all built like hockey sticks anyway."
