BLUEY THE BLA CKHAWK

STEVE “Bluey” Southern was never going to stay away from footy for too long.

The former Cowboys cult figure and 130- game NRL player is settling into his role as a coaching assistant at the Townsville Blackhawks, where he is specialising in defence.

Southern spent six years at the Cowboys and was part of the club’s run through the 2004 and 2005 finals, culminating with his run- on start in the 2005 decider.

Finishing his playing career at the Newcastle Knights in 2011, Southern moved into the working world and was most recently based in Gladstone before shifting back to Townsville early last year.

“Townsville is where I grew as an adult,” Southern told the Townsville Bulletin.

“I was 21 when I first turned up here and I learned so much about footy and myself.

“I’m good friends with ‘ Woolfy’ ( Blackhawks coach Kristian Woolf) and I let him know that I wanted to be involved when I got back here.

“It’s quite a good feeling, and this is a good group of boys – there’s no egos.”

Southern is not the only former Cowboys player now coaching at the Blackhawks.

Cowboys legend Matty Bowen is helping mentor the Blackhawks backline, and like Southern is getting to grips with coaching.

“It didn’t come easy Southern said.

“Football comes easy enough for me, and as a player I was always told what to do.

“So transferring from that over to being the one who gives out the instructions was a big change.

“But Woolfy and the coaching staff have been helping me along and it’s getting better each session.”

Southern watched over an opposed training session between the Blackhawks and Cowboys at first,” under- 20s yesterday, and admitted to having an impulse to join in.

“Trying to keep away from contact is hard,” Southern said with a laugh.

“But it’s great to help the young fellas out and I’m working with the Blackhawks under- 18s and under- 20s as well.

“They’re really buying into everything and willing to learn.”

Heading in to their third season in the Intrust Super Cup ( ISC), the Blackhawks will look to again feature in finals and push for a maiden premiership.

The Blackhawks play their preseasons trials against the Northern Pride on February 11 and Cowboys on February 17.