Kiwi Test player puts fun back into footy
BURLEIGH’S reserve grade Rugby League Gold Coast squad are being treated to pearls of wisdom from inaugural Newcastle Knights captain and former New Zealand Test forward Sam Stewart.
The 56-year-old is coaching the Bears’ team that competes in the Doug Lipp Cup, which is their third-string side behind Intrust Super Cup and Agrade.
Stewart has had a long affiliation with the club’s junior branch through his sons Shane, Samuel, Zarn and Cantona, who have all pulled on the boots at Pizzey Park at some point.
It’s through those days that his maiden official senior role at Burleigh has arisen.
“A couple of the players that were playing there last year, I have coached them in the juniors with my youngest son (Cantona),” Stewart said.
“They asked their father, who is one of my good mates, to prompt me and basically he prompted me enough to come down and I said, ‘I’d do it if you do it’.
“So I have a couple of old mates that I have been involved with at the Burleigh juniors to give me a bit of a hand and help me organise things and make it a bit of fun.
“I think the real game of rugby league is played at the local level – I have always maintained that and the stuff we see on TV it’s all well and good but there is no fun in it.”
Fun has been a central word in Stewart’s approach to the Bears, who have had a win and a loss from their opening two games.
Among the players in his side are Jack Rogers and Jye Vowles, the sons of former Gold Coast first graders Mat Rogers and Adrian Vowles, respectively.