League hero to join Koalas

SCOTT Sattler will be lining up with the South Tweed Koalas when they make their debut in the Bycroft Cup first-grade competition on March 28.

Sattler, who was the hero of Wests Tigers NRL premiership win in 2005, has been a good mate of Koalas’ coach Dean Allen since their days at the Gold Coast Chargers, and now they will be joining forces for South Tweed.

“Scott will be playing with South Tweed as his commitments with Fox Sports allow, which is massive for us,” Allen said.

“I’m in training too hoping to go around for another season, and it would be good to play alongside Scott once again.”

Allen, 32, needs no introduction to Gold Coast Rugby League lovers, having played six seasons with the Burleigh Bears and two with Tweed Heads Seagulls, before joining Southport to captain them to an undefeated season to win the Bycroft Cup in 2008.

“During my career I have always enjoyed a winning culture and can see no reason why it will not continue at South Tweed,” he said.

“I definitely will not be happy unless we make the finals and proceed from there.”

South Tweed, after a rebuilding season, come into first-grade competition this season after finishing near the bottom of the ladder in the reserve grade and winning the under-19 premiership last season.

Allen has already set goals for his new club, saying he would like to see them strong across the three grades and win the club championship trophy.

“We have had former South Tweed juniors Graham Smallwood, a backrower, and Gene Slockee, a five-eighth or centre, join our top grade along with Sattler and several others,” he said.

“Scott was interested both in playing and putting a bit back into the sport, so it’s all looking good.

“We have loads of talent coming from the premiership-winning under-19 side and they will be given every opportunity to play in our top team.”

Allen has a squad of between 30 and 50 at training on Tuesday and Thursday nights and has been impressed with the skill level shown by the younger footballers.

“The skills have been amazing, so that side of our workout has been easy to coach, and we are just getting together our pattern of play and a few things down pat,” he said. “It’s been a very positive start to what promises to be a big year.”

Allen said he had been encouraged by the attitude and commitment shown at training and said the Koalas were about to sign another six to eight players from interstate and overseas.

“We would like to see it back to the South Tweed of old with clubs coming to Dave Burns Field knowing they had to earn the two competition points,” he said.

“We have one of the biggest junior clubs anywhere and we want to give these youngsters a senior team they want to stay and play with and this is why winning the club championship is a major goal.

“It was a great move when the Koalas moved into the Gold Coast competition and we want to get back to how we were when Trad McLean and Marty Quinn and the likes were running around.

“It was really intimidating to play at South Tweed.”