SOUTHERN SUBURBS TIGERS
LAST YEAR
0-16, 11th
INS AND OUTS
IN: Wade Austin (Dalby), Jeb Gerome (Warwick), Mackenzie Fabian (Burdekin), Ethan Hearn (Brothers), Nat Jones (Mustangs) Jazz Namana (Valleys) Hayden Packer (Mustangs) Luke Jillet (Pittsworth) Mitch Tuite (year off)
OUT: Dwayne Duncan (Valleys) Kyle Athorn (Retired)
LIKELY TEAM
Wade Austin, Dylan Court, Jordan Dimmack, Josh Foster, Jeb Gerome, Mackenzie Fabian, Angus Hearn, Ethan Hearn, Matty Holmes, Nat Jones, Tate McCormick, Mitch Murphy, Jaz Namana, Hayden Packer, Luke Jillet, Josh Ryan, Mitch Reilly, Nat Thomas, Mitch Tuite, Jacob Whittaker, Damian Mills.
THE YEAR AHEAD
After the well-documented perils of last season, the Tigers are back with a new-found belief.
“The boys are very keen at the moment. They’re bouncing out of their skins,” coach Liam Capewell said.
“At training it’s a matter of holding them back at the moment. They’re on the bit and ready to go.
“We’re probably lucky we started training when we did. We’ve had a good commitment from the players, and they’ve gelled really well together so far.
“We recruited in that same frame of mind, of getting mates to bring mates along.”
Despite going winless in 2018, Capewell believes the potential is at the club to turn things around.
“We’re aiming for a finals appearance,” he said.
“I’m one of those people who believes if we are putting in the effort that we have, we’re aiming to be there at the end of the year.
“Jacob Whittaker has shown a lot of the new boys what it’s about to be a Tiger, and Mitch Tuite has added that bit of experience that we need.”
PLAYER TO WATCH
Jazz Namana. “He brings a lot of enthusiasm for a young fella, and hasn’t been seen at the TRL level yet,” Capewell said. “He’s brought a few mates to the club that aren’t far behind him when it comes to x-factor.”
VERDICT
On the field, 2018 was nothing short of ugly for the Tigers, and that is through no fault of the players that continually showed up and gave their all. There’s a sense of belief in the air at Souths with a number of changes, and most importantly, player numbers are back on the improve. They won’t go winless in 2019, that’s for sure.
TENTH