Koalas on the move

SOUTH Tweed personnel gather at a meet and greet day with club coaches (inset) Ricky McCarron, Dean Allen and Damien Towell. Photo: FELICIA KOSRGI D124710

FOLLOWING a year in the abyss, A grade newcomers South Tweed Koalas are ready to claw their way to the top of the Gold Coast Rugby League tree.

They’ve upped the professionalism, secured major sponsorships, enticed top coaches, recruited raw talent, and, over the past three weeks, trained the house down at Dave Burns Field.

The first major coup for the rejuvenated club was the signature of former Burleigh State League player and Tweed Heads Seagull, big Dean Allen, who enters the fold as first grade captain-coach.

A premiership-winning captain with Southport two years ago, Allen, who will take on a play-making role, knows what it takes to conquer the competition. The veteran campaigner said he sees everything required in the Koalas.

“This is going to be a great season for South Tweed, no doubt about it,” Allen said.

“The skill level of our players is exceptional. The players’ raw talent and natural ability surpasses that of the last couple of clubs I’ve been at since State League.

“And the enthusiasm is amazing. They’re all working hard and picking up on exactly what it is I want them to do.

“We’ve got a long way to go but all the early signs are positive.”

Having opted to cut their Northern Rivers Regional Rugby League ties in pursuit of Gold Coast glory, the Koalas embarrisingly failed to field either a first or reserve grade side in their debut season. But fortunatley they saved face with the success of their remarkable under-19 side which, as they had done in the NRRRL, dominated its division all the way to a memorable grand final triumph over derby rivals Bilambil at Pizzey Park.

But this season things will be different.

With former NRL hardman Scott Sattler all but secured and negotiations with several key representative players close to finalisation, Allen could well be coaching the competition’s finest cattle.

“Fingers crossed we can get them all,” he said. “Numbers have already been pretty good but a few more big-game players would be nice.

“The exciting part is some of the guys who are too old for the 19s, locals like Jesse Beadling and Dean Haywood, are opting to stay and move up to senior football.”

Ricky McCarron has been recruited as reserve grade coach, with premiership-winning mentor Damien Towel again in charge of the under-19s.