Top quarterback David Ward is the Trojans under-18s team head coach. The 2012 NSW Gridiron Football League starts next month

Ward, 34, is also a household name with the West Sydney Pirates, the parent club of the Trojans.

More than 15 years ago Ward began as a junior player with the Trojans, then with the Pirates. He has also coached at the Trojans before, but he didn't have the top role last year, but now he's back.

Ward grew up in Rossmore just a quarterback's spiral pass from Austral's Craik Park, where the Trojans and Pirates train.

The Trojans started training started three weeks ago. Sessions are held at Craik Park, on Tuesday and Thursday, at 6pm.

Ward is a deep thinker on the game.

He devised the playbook for the footballers to learn and adopt.

The longtime Australian player played in the green and gold colours at the 1999 and 2011 World Cups.

But Ward didn't play for the Pirates in the recently completed season in which they finished runner-up to the Sydney Uni Lions. The computer systems administration manager ruptured his anterior cruciate ligament in his knee playing for Australia at the 2011 World Cup.

"I hope to be back playing for the Pirates when the new season starts this September," Ward said.

"I have had six knee surgeries in my American football playing days.

"I am recovering well and I have done plenty of rehabilitation on my knee. it's getting stronger by the day."

But for now his sharp mind is on coaching the young Trojans.

"We have players who are new to the game, some who have played for a few years, and some who have come from rugby league, soccer and various other sporting backgrounds," Ward said.

"Everyone has a different learning and development phase as a player, some catch on to things quicker than others.

"My idea also is to coach the player and also help develop them as people in life.

"Last season we just missed the play-offs. We weren't far away, the potential is there to have a good season this year."