SEAGULLS SWOOPING
TWEED Heads have attracted two established Intrust Super Cup players and believe more could be on the way as they strive to build on an improved 2018 campaign.
The Seagulls have locked in veteran forward John Palavi and talented playmaker Christian Hazard as core elements of their roster for next season.
Palavi played five NRL games for the New Zealand Warriors from 2014 to 2016 before plying his trade in the ISC at Norths for the past two seasons.
The 26-year-old captained the Devils and collected the club’s overall players’ player award this month off the back of a 22-game season in which he averaged 113 running metres a game.
As is the case with Palavi, Hazard arrives at Piggabeen Sports Complex on a oneyear deal.
Capable of playing hooker but more likely to feature in the halves, his contract was signed, sealed and delivered on Monday.
The 23-year-old Toowoomba junior played in the 2016 ISC grand final for Redcliffe and represented Queensland Residents the following year before joining the Newcastle Knights. His presence will particularly come in handy given the departure of utility Eli Levido back to Sydney.
Palavi meanwhile represents an upgrade on Tristan Lumley, who is believed to have reached an agreement to play bush footy next season.
There had been question marks surrounding the future of standout second-rower Lamar Liolevave but the onetime Wests Tigers player is now considered likely to remain with the Seagulls.
“I reckon we are in a considerably better position than what we were last year in the sense that we have signed a couple of quality players and we have a couple still in the pipeline,” said Tweed boss Paul Stephenson.
“All those guys that hadn’t played Cup before this year – we debuted 13 blokes in Cup this year – that’s a big deal for us and I think next year those guys are all better with a year under their belt.
“And I think it was 14 blokes who had their first game in Cup for the club so we just had a heap of new blokes.”
Tweed finished the year in 11th place, with nine wins and a draw, having taken just 11 wins across the previous two seasons.