From todays Newcastle Herald

MACQUARIE hooker Chris Hyde will decide within a fortnight whether to re-sign with the Scorpions or return home to the Woy Woy Roosters next season.
The 26-year-old has been a revelation at Peacock Field this season and arguably the best new recruit to the Newcastle Rugby League.
When voting went in camera for the player of the year after round nine, Hyde was on 12 points, only one behind the leader, Maitland No.9 Terence Seu Seu.
Woy Woy have offered Hyde the captain-coaching job next season and he will meet with his junior club next week.
Hyde had already rejected the same position with the Ourimbah Magpies.
‘‘At the moment I’m pretty happy with Macquarie to be honest,’’ Hyde said yesterday.
‘‘Hopefully in the next two weeks I’ll get it all sorted out.
‘‘I’m 90per cent sure I’ll be at Macquarie again. I’m just going to give Woy Woy a last chance to see what they can offer.’’
Behind arguably Newcastle’s most physically dominant pack with the likes of Danny Vaughan, Blake Gallen and Adam Swadling, Hyde has scored eight tries in 12 games and been a constant creative threat from dummy-half.
Hyde has also tried to be a calming influence in what can be a tempestuous Scorpions side.
‘‘I think having me there has helped chill them out a bit, discipline wise,’’ he said.
Retaining the services of Hyde is central to Macquarie coach Barrie Moore’s plans for next season.
The first-year top-grade coach is a big fan.
‘‘He’s been up there all year as our best player week in, week out,’’ Moore said. ‘‘He hasn’t missed a game. He’s had a couple of niggling injuries and we’ve been nursing him a bit.’’
At 18, Hyde was signed to play Jersey Flegg for South Sydney. Then he spent two seasons in the NSW Cup with Rabbitohs feeder club North Sydney.
From the Bears he returned to Woy Woy last year, where he was selected for the post-season NSW Country tour of South Africa.
Through his friendship with injured Macquarie forward Beau Bovis, who is also a Roosters junior, Hyde was lured north to Toronto.
Hyde still lives in Woy Woy and works as an electrician in northern Sydney. He commutes twice a week to Scorpions training.
‘‘At first I was a bit unsure because I left all my mates on the coast but I feel like I’ve found bit of a home there,’’ Hyde said.
‘‘Playing behind this forward pack is awesome. It’s pretty easy work for me.’’
By JOSH LEESON