BIRD TAKES FLIGHT AGAINST DOLPHINS
SURFERS Paradise could not catch the fast-starting Nerang Bulls in a high-scoring GCDRU round eight clash on Sunday.
Nerang opened the game with four-straight tries and held off a Surfers comeback to win 34-21, defending their position at second on the ladder.
Surfers fought back from 24-0 down to win the final 45 minutes 21-7 but could not claw back the full margin.
Nerang’s monster forward
pack built midfield momentum for its classy outside backs to score four of the side’s five tries.
Fullback convert Will Bird, 22, blitzed Surfers for a long-range hat-trick while Bulls skipper Josh Edmond
added another on the right wing. Edmond could have had two if not for a last-ditch ankle-tap forcing a comical knock-on with the tryline exposed.
Coach Johnny Maniapoto said the Bulls strike power from distance was the most exciting factor in their big win.
“It’s really good to get a couple of long-range tries because that’s something we’ve been working on for a while,” Maniapoto said.
“A lot of it is we’re managing to put the same backline out every week.
“All clubs have had horrendous runs with injury but we’ve kept the same backline and that combination is starting to gel.”
Bird, the younger of Nerang’s well-known Bird brothers, made the move to fullback this off-season after starting at halfback last season.
An end of year trip to Vietnam to play in the Saigon 10s tournament hinted at his potential at the position, which Maniapoto says is beginning to shine through.
“Will played fullback there and that was when we first discussed (moving him) there full-time,” the Bulls coach said.
“Playing fullback gives him more time and space.
“He’s been adjusting to the new position but he knows his way to the tryline.”