Young Barbarians are up for the fight

THE Coolangatta Tweed Barbarians are not about to disappear – that’s the defiant declaration of club president Stu Donnelly.

Whispers about Tweed’s future had swirled for weeks, with the Goodwin Park outfit battling through the back end of the Gold Coast District Rugby Union season.

Donnelly assured all that their 37-19 loss to Palm Beach Currumbin on Saturday would not be the end of them, though they are yet to commit to staying in first grade.

“There will definitely be Baa Baas in 2019, there’s no doubt about that,” he said.

How they will appear remains up in the air however, with a club meeting to throw open discussions on what grades they will contest next year. Nerang are among the clubs leading the charge to join first grade.

“We have got a fair idea of what we will be doing. A lot of it will be rebuilding,” Donnelly said.

“This time last year a lot of the players were a lot older and this year we have got quite a new group of 19, 20, 21-year-olds, which is a positive move but whether they are going to be up to first grade or second grade, we don’t know.

“We will be judging all that at the end of September and October and putting our plan together.” Those talks are likely to happen after the club celebrates its 40th anniversary with a reunion on September 29.

The success of their new junior program featuring four teams is another cause for optimism.

“The big thing is we’re getting huge interest from the league kids in playing rugby union,” Donnelly said.

“It is a good, positive move for us as it’s the first year we’ve had them and there’s talks about next year we may be fielding six teams.”

Griffith University Colleges meanwhile piled on the points against Bond Pirates, crossing for 19 tries in a 126-10 demolition.

It marks the second time the Knights have racked up triple figures against the Pirates this season, having won 117-15 in Round 7.

The result sealed a sweep of all three senior minor premierships for the Knights, as well as their maiden club championship.

Their next challenge will be against Surfers Paradise in the grand final qualifier.

Helensvale defeated Gold Coast Eagles 59-22 in a preview to the two teams’ knockout final next weekend.

Picture: GLENN HAMPSON, RICHARD GOSLING Coolangatta Tweed defenders bring down a Alleygators rival, helping set the scene for the club’s future for youngsters (inset, from left) Reuben Tamaraki, 11, Will Sullivan, 11, Leeton Jacky, 12, and Robert Lee, 12. The kids are pictured with senior captain Mitch Planten and president Stu Donnelly.