Diggers Rest has locked in a new coach for next year’s Riddell District Netball League season.
After a tough 2025 where they finished second bottom on the ladder, the Burras have appointed Deepak Patu as the club’s new A-grade coach for next year.
Patu is no stranger to the netball court both as a player and as a coach, both locally, nationally and internationally.
He has played in four Australian National Championships and four New Zealand National Championships.
He’s been an international representative for six years as well.
Patu returns to the RDNL having previously coached the Western Rams in 2023 in their final season in the competition before the club moved to the Western Football League.
In his time at the Rams, he coached their under-19 side to back-to-back undefeated seasons while they had success in other grades over that period.
The club said Patu is inspired by Maya Angelou’s quote, “do the best you can until you know better. When you know better, do better”
“A quote that inspires the way Dee coaches and leads every team he’s part of,” the Burras said.
“What excites us most is Dee’s passion for creating a fun, safe and hardworking environment where players can be themselves, grow their game and push to the next level.
“Season 2026 is going to be huge.”
The Burras won just one match this year, while they drew in two others.
The Burras said there would be more announcements to come.
