CRICKET SHOCK
LANCASTRIAN Simon Belston insists he has a job to complete at Burleigh before he leaves the Bullsharks at the end of the current Kookaburra Cup season.
The 30-year-old confirmed he has agreed to coach cross-town rivals Southport Labrador for three years where he will oversee the Tigers’ senior and junior programs.
The shock move comes at a time when the Bullsharks are enjoying their best season in the local competition with teams in firsts, seconds and thirds eyeing finals places.
“I stress that is where my focus is,” Belston said.
“My focus from here until March is finals. We’ve got first grade, second grade and third grade all in the title hunt for the first time in history.
“So there is a lot of hard work to do for the next four or five rounds.”
The shock move of Belston means he will be with his fourth Kookaburra Cup club since he first played with Palm Beach Currumbin in 2007-08.
He then played for Surfers in 2008-09, returned to England for six years, then returned to the Coast to link with Burleigh, where he is into his second season.
Belston is in the process of gaining Australian citizenship and views his move to Southport as helping to secure his short-term future.
An official statement from Burleigh read: “Simon has been a huge influence on and off the field for our club over the last 18 months and we are saddened to see him go.
“But Simon has been given a great opportunity of which we as a club are fully supportive. This is an opportunity not only for himself but also for his family.”
Southport president Don Gumm confirmed the threeyear deal for Belston and also one for current playing coach Nic Peterson to stay on as captain for the same period.
Belston leads Burleigh into one of a few key Kookaburra Cup matches today. The Bullsharks (third on 61 points) host Mudgeeraba Nerang (fifth on 57) at Avid Concrete Oval.
If Mudgeeraba win – and fourth-placed Helensvale Pacific Pines lose to Surfers Paradise – the Bushmen can leap into third spot.