Toopi goes but Gulls have power

RUNAWAY Bay have lost former NRL star Clinton Toopi as coach but have bolstered their squad in a bid to go one better in the 2018 Gold Coast Rugby League competition.

The Seagulls enjoyed a considerable rise in fortunes last year, surging into the grand final before falling at the last hurdle to a powerhouse Burleigh outfit.

Bay have already made inroads to turn the tables next season, luring brothers Daymeric and Dylan Pelo across from the Bears.

Further player signings might be limited, however, with a rule in place where Gold Coast clubs can only recruit 100 points’ worth of players from other clubs – with A-graders valued at 30 points.

In other news, Toopi has stepped down as coach, paving the way for Nick Gleeson to take the top job. Gleeson has enjoyed a successful stint mentoring the club’s reserve grade side.

Toopi’s decision was largely driven by time constraints.

“I will be in the shadows making sure I am supporting from afar and making sure that the boys carry on the culture that we all built there,” he said.