Koalas earn respect in first-grade

Daniel Tevi in action for the South Tweed Koalas.

Blainey Woodham

SOUTH Tweed Koalas have rattled the cages of a few sides this season in their return to the first-grade Bycroft Cup competition and they have also shown their impressive strike rate.

Managing to defeat traditionally tough teams such as Tugun Seahawks, Currumbin Eagles and Runaway Bay proved they wouldn't be steamrolled easily.

The team did have growing pains through the season though as they had a couple of New Zealand players in Henry Dunn and Tuifio Vea build up the team then slip away back to their homeland before season's end.

Captain-coach Dean Allen said they had achieved what they had set out to do this season and confirmed that they were the team to be wary of.

“This season we wanted to build momentum and we have done that ...we have also gained respect from the players and the coaching staff which is a realistic goal,” Allen said. “Some of the guys we had here hadn't played in first grade with men and they did a good job ... they were not a disgrace. We have one of the biggest junior bases and we want to have a first grade team for them to play for as well.”

You can't get the big red pen and fault them as they were unafraid to give their young guns a trial on the front line. Over the course of 19 rounds, they let about eight under-19s players enter the first grade arena.

The Koalas also were fortunate to have former NRL stalwart Scott Sattler blend into the side in round 15.

Allen said they were looking strong for next season with 95 per cent of players keen to re-sign while there had been a number of phone inquiries.