He also appears to have a solid lead in the squad’s Movember competition.
Dermody, in his first pre-season campaign as head coach after a long Highlanders career as a player and assistant coach, wants his players to connect with both the community and their new coaches before what (hopefully) will be the first "normal" Super Rugby season since 2019.
The connections between players and coaches, and indeed between the coaches themselves, will be essential as the Highlanders need to get the waka paddling vigorously in the right direction before their season opener against the Blues on February 25.
Not only is Dermody in his first year in the big chair but he has assistants Dave Dillon (defence), Richard Whiffin (attack) and Tom Donnelly (forwards) on deck for their debut seasons.
"We’ve got a coaching group with some new ideas around how we want to play," Dermody said this week.
"We’re not starting from scratch, because all our boys are good rugby players, but we’re just having a really good look at the rugby we want to play.
"I think it’s important that the players spend a lot of time with the new coaches to get to know them on the field and off the field, so we’re having a pretty good mix of rugby and time just hanging around."
All Highlanders coaches and club staff had a valuable team-building trip to Glendhu Bay recently.
It was "so far, so good" for the new coaching team, Dermody said.
He is also eager to see his players get back into the community — something that has always been a key plank in being a "Highlanders man" but which has been heavily restricted in recent years due to Covid.
It will start on Sunday when the Highlanders take part in the Santa parade in Dunedin.
"That’s always a cool thing, and we haven’t really been able to do it for a couple of years.
"It’s important that our boys are seen in the community, and engaging with people, because we haven’t really had that opportunity because of Covid.
"We really need to get back out there."
Dermody will take the Highlanders to a camp at Te Anau before they break for Christmas.
Otherwise, the key part of the early campaign is getting fitness trainer Simon Jones to "chip a bit of rust off".
Dermody has had a chat to his three touring All Blacks — veteran halfback Aaron Smith, tyro prop Ethan de Groot and flanker Shannon Frizell.
They are officially on leave until January 25 but the coach hopes they will be able to pop into the camp, and de Groot has already been in to work out in the gym.
The Highlanders were getting more clarification from New Zealand Rugby but Dermody expected the All Blacks would get two full weeks off next year, before the World Cup, and not be allowed to play more than five straight games.
Leading first five Mitch Hunt is training with the Highlanders as he works his way back from the neck issue that wrecked his NPC.
"He’s just done no contact for half a year so we’re progressing him through to hopefully be ready to go at the start of the season," Dermody said.
Midfielder Josh Timu is back running soon after having a minor ankle procedure after the NPC, and talented lock Pari Pari Parkinson is buzzing for action after his year out with injury.
"It’s good to see Pari Pari back and running around.
"He’s into everything now. He hasn’t done any contact for over a year so he needs to build through that."
