Team switch for Hudson

HE was supposed to form part of Townsville Brothers’ coaching set up, but now Bryan Hudson has gone across enemy lines to lead Lavaracks Army Rugby Club this season.

Family reasons have meant initial 2020 coach John Browne had to step aside, leading to Hudson’s induction into the role for the post-coronavirus phase of the Townsville and District Rugby Union.

Commitments with the air force initially meant he would be unable to take part in the season.

However, as is the case in the COVID-19 era, things changed very quickly.

“Funny thing was I was supposed to coach there (Brothers) this year … I posted up to Townsville at the end of the year and made contact through former players in defence who played (for Brothers),” Hudson said.

“Being in the RAAF myself

I had to step down as I was supposed to deploy in April, but when COVID and everything happened that got switched off, and by the time I said I was good to go they had other coaches in place.

“I’ve got a gist of what’s going on there, so it’s going to be a big task for the boys this weekend – they’ll be the benchmark after their first two rounds.”

With rugby league deciding to call off its season, LARCS have taken on several new players to bolster their ranks.

Given the transient nature of military work, the reinforcements could prove pivotal to their premiership prospects.

However this is a stigma

Hudson is hoping the club shifts away from moving into the future – the idea the club is purely for those serving in the Australian Defence Force.

“I suppose the perception from outside of LARCS club is we’re only for army and defence personnel,” Hudson said.

“We’re trying to shift that focus to ensure we have players coming in who aren’t within Defence. The flow-on effect of that is having players into the future that aren’t generally based around the army, so it’s managing sustainability moving forward as well.”

Last season, in their first year in the competition, LARCS fell in the grand final to Teachers West to come so close yet so far to a Cinderella story.

The drive is still there to go one better, however the coronavirus-enforced hiatus may have changed the game.

But the team have continued working away in COVID hibernation.

IT’S GOING TO BE A BIG TASK FOR THE BOYS THIS WEEKEND — THEY’LL BE THE BENCHMARK AFTER THEIR FIRST TWO ROUNDS.

BRYAN HUDSON