Angry Griese jumps to rival
DUMPED by the club he had led to premiership glory, Martin Griese is suddenly finding the fire in his belly to strap the boots back on for a chief rival.
Griese is a well-known rugby league figure on the Gold Coast as Burleigh’s third most capped Queensland Cup player with 146 games, including their 2004 grand final triumph.
In recent years, the forward has been central to Tugun’s success in the Gold Coast Rugby League competition, first as a player before stepping up as coach for the past two seasons. The Seahawks won the 2016 decider – in their sixth straight grand final appearance – and were preliminary finalists this year.
But that was not enough for Griese to keep his post, leaving the 36-year-old to link up with long-time Bears teammate Ryan Gundry at Tugun’s derby rivals Currumbin.
Griese, who was replaced as Seahawks coach by Clint Barends, declined to go into detail about the falling out, but he is known to be less than pleased with his treatment.
He did admit Tugun’s decision to move him on came as a genuine shock.
“Yeah,” was Griese’s frank response. “That’s life.”
Griese didn’t take the field at all in 2017 but is considering defying his ageing body to make a comeback.
“Look, I wouldn’t say that I am massively keen to play,” he said.
“It’s just the way I guess I left Tugun. I have got a bit of unfinished business so if the opportunity arises, I’ll play.
“(The circumstances around his exit) is why I potentially think that I wouldn’t mind playing a few games to get a bit of aggression out, I guess.”
Gundry, who is entering his second season as Eagles head coach, said his ex-teammate’s presence would be a major boost.
“It’s fantastic to have somebody with his success and his drive to be successful onboard at Currumbin. He is only going to help the club go forward,” Gundry said.
After an improved season in which they challenged for a finals spot, things are looking up for the Eagles.
Griese and Gundry are not the only former Burleigh state league footballers being reunited.
Blake Morrison is coming out of retirement; Phil Ramage has joined after a stint captaincoaching in the Whitsundays; while one-time Parramatta NRL forward Pele Peletelese is also headed to Galleon Way.
“We’re really strong,” Griese said.
Gundry added such inclusions would be huge after the team had missed crucial experience throughout 2017.