Woolf puts results first for struggling Seagulls
BEN Woolf is ready to change his tune as he prepares to guide Gold Coast NRL feeder club Tweed Heads back to Queensland Cup success.
Woolf has spent the past four seasons as the Titans’ under-20 National Youth Competition coach, placing a high price on player develop- ment ahead of win-loss records. That philosophy was on show this year as Woolf’s key players including Max King, Tyronne Roberts-Davis, Phillip Sami and Keegan Hipgrave spent large chunks of the season in senior footy either at NRL or Queensland Cup level.
However, after being appointed to the Seagulls coaching position vacated by Aaron Zimmerle, Woolf says it’s time for him to increase the priority given to results on the field.
“I think it has to; Tweed is its own identity,” said Woolf, who has returned to work as a secondary school teacher after nearly four years of full-time coaching at the Titans.
“The process is still to an extent with the Titans guys coming in, the idea around them is getting them ready to play first grade. I also would like to see a lot of guys from Tweed develop and become first graders because that is that next step, particularly the young guys.
“But with Tweed being its own identity, they need to have success. I’m not expecting immediate success and the success may not come in my time but I think they need to have an element of success for themselves so that their own identity improves.”
Having won the 2007 premiership and been finalists in 2011, Tweed have struggled in recent seasons, with a lower budget and less resources than their rivals. In good news for the Piggabeen club, player of the year Lamar Liolevave has re-signed on a one-year deal.