Karatasios ready to help the Eagles soar
“WE will be there, I can guarantee that,” 2015 grand final hero John Karatasios says of Gold Coast Eagles’ mission to rediscover their district rugby union glory days.
Two years ago, the ace flyhalf memorably nailed a lastminute long-range penalty goal to steal a 16-13 victory against Bond Pirates and complete a premiership three-peat for the Eagles.
But the Southport-based club have struggled since, missing finals last year and sitting sixth on the 2017 ladder ahead of a key match against Colleges today.
On the positive, the Eagles finally have a fully fit Karatasios back on deck.
Following the 2015 season, he travelled to Europe to play for Annecy in eastern France.
While the experience abroad was rewarding, the six-month stint took a toll on his body.
“I went over there and I strained a medial ligament and tore my rotator cuff in my shoulder,” he said.
“I played through it all because I really wanted to give it a good crack. I didn’t want to take it for granted or waste that chance.”
Karatasios, a personal trainer, returned to the Eagles for the back end of the 2016 season, which ultimately only made his injuries worse.
“Over the off-season, I did a lot of stuff on that,” he said.
“I was told I had to have surgery on (my shoulder). I opted not to, did a whole bunch of rehab, got myself as physically good as I could and haven’t looked back since – knock on wood.”
Eased into the current season, he then suffered another setback in the form of a concussion that briefly forced him back to the sidelines.
But the 23-year-old is excited to now, at last, be in full flight.
“I always knew I could play some decent footy, it’s just those little niggles that if I can cut them out of my game I could do quite well,” he said.
Karatasios is keeping his options open for the future – including the possibility of heading back overseas – but is certain Eagles success won’t be too far away.
“We’re a club in rebuilding,” he said.
“We’re a way off where we were but we are definitely getting back to where we were.” JOEL Brown will spearhead a trio of Bond University stars hoping to this weekend lay the platform for more representative opportunities.
Brown, 21, will start at openside flanker for the Queensland Premier Rugby President’s XV against Queensland Country at Ballymore at 3.10pm tomorrow.
He is joined by Bond teammates Tai Ford and Mitch Third – both on the bench – and plans to use the match as a springboard to further progress his career.
The Southport School product spent time in the Brumbies system before being part of the premiership-winning Queensland under-20s team last year.
A shining light in Bond’s dismal campaign, his next step is to challenge for a National Rugby Championship call-up.
Brown has relished the chance to mix with different players.
“They’re all a good bunch of guys and they’re all of the same mindset that they want to push forward into NRC and higher honours,” he said.
“Rugby is my passion, it’s what I want to do. I just want to get as far as I can.”
Coached by Ben McCormack (Brothers) and Elton Berrange (University of Queensland), the President’s XV had two training sessions to prepare for game day.
Gold Coasters Jesse Mcgilvary, Steven Finigan and Mitch Planten are in the Heelers squad.
With a competition-wide bye round in Premier Rugby, Bond are next due to play on July 1 against Brothers. ALL Blacks coach Steve Hansen has compared today’s first Test with the British and Irish Lions to a World Cup final as they prepare to take on a touring party that has been growing in confidence and form.
The Lions have shaken off a slow start to their tour to develop into a formidable force, but they now face the task of handing the world champions their first defeat at Auckland’s Eden Park in 23 years.