BEARS ON MISSION TO CLAW WAY BACK TO TOP
BURLEIGH coach Stuart Wilkins is adamant his side will be in the mix when it counts despite a slow start to their Rugby League Gold Coast title defence.
The Bears are in unfamiliar territory in seventh on the eight-team A-grade ladder, with a 1-4 record to show for their season to date.
It comes after a huge turnover of players, with many of their premiership winners retiring or moving to other clubs either on the Coast or in the Northern Rivers competition.
Last weekend, the Bears were led out by 21-year-old second-rower Jesse Savage against unbeaten Currumbin after usual captain Lorenzo Ma’afu succumbed to a knee injury that will keep him sidelined for 10 weeks.
Despite a 34-14 defeat to the Eagles, Wilkins took positives from the fact they entered halftime at three tries apiece against the 2018 “benchmark” squad.
“We have a young side,” Wilkins said. “It’s just about re-establishing.
“Currumbin have got a smart halfback (Phil Ramage) who runs the game and understands the game really well and he plays like it.
“That’s what we have got to learn and we are getting better every week. We were better than what we were against Southport.”
Burleigh host sixth-placed Bilambil on Sunday.