BURLEIGH BOPPERS
BURLEIGH have added two big boppers to their Intrust Super Cup engine room to cover for the retirement of veteran prop Matt White.
The Bears have signed 25year-old duo Jacob Hind and Oliver Percy from rivals Sunshine Coast and Central Queensland respectively for the 2019 season.
Hind, who stands at 189cm and weighs 108kg, is a Bilambil junior who played under Bears coach Jimmy Lenihan at the Jets, while Percy (185cm, 105kg) is an ex-Titans under-20 player.
“With Whitey gone, we certainly needed to find at least one or two (props),” Lenihan said.
“We had some injuries during the year to people like Lorenzo Ma’afu and Josh Ailaomai so once we lost a few of those bigger blokes in the middle, I think at the back end of the year we got exposed a little bit.
“When you think you have enough front-rowers, you always have to go and get another one or two.
“We had a fairly good side last year. Now the big thing is to keep them on the field and hopefully go well again.
“I think it’s important as well to keep adding people into the group and keep changing the dynamics a little bit.”
The recruitment news comes one day after Tweed Heads confirmed the signings of John Palavi and Christian Hazard, with Hind joining those two in scoring Gold Coast NRL train-and-trial opportunities this pre-season.
The Bears have also picked up half Conner Toia and second-rower Sam Saville.
Toia played in Runaway Bay’s Rugby League Gold Coast grand final win in September, while Saville was on the opposite side of the field and has captained Tweed at ISC level in the past.