Dean Carney, 53, and John Gutherson, 47, have teamed up for the first time to lead the Fingal Bay Bomboras into the Newcastle Rugby League's second division competition for 2015.

Carney, who played more than 100 first grade NRL games for Cronulla Sharks and Illawarra in the 1980s, returns to the fold as head coach.

Gutherson, a Bomboras icon, will be his assistant.

"The club had an ordinary season on the field in 2014 so we will be looking to improve on last year's sixth placing," said Carney, who toured Papua New Guinea with the Australian Presidents' representative team in 1985.

"At this level it's all about a basic structure, doing the little things right and playing for each other.

"Training is also very important," he said.

"If we can get bodies to training we will win games."

Gutherson, a long serving player with the Bomboras having joined them in their inaugural year in 1998, said family, volunteers and local sponsorship had contributed to the Fingal Bay club's success from day one.

"We get great support from the Fingal Bay Sports Club and other local businesses, and we have a hard working committee led by Murray Waugh and George MacDonald," he said.

"This season we will have a good mix of young and more experienced players and as such we will be promoting a family type atmosphere at all our home games."

Both Carney and Gutherson said the club was committed to supporting the district's first division club, the Port Stephens Sharks.

"Just like last season our players will be encouraged to help out the Sharks on and off the field throughout the season," Gutherson said.

■ The Bomboras will kick off training on Thursday, February 5, at Fingal Oval from 6pm.