Owens to stick around

DUAL QAFL premiershipwinning coach Chad Owens will remain at the helm of Palm Beach Currumbin.

Owens announced in September he was considering stepping down from his position as head coach in 2019 after guiding the Lions to a second straight flag.

The respected mentor cited his young family behind his motivation to potentially walk away from the role.

Owens has two young sons, Luis, 4, and Connor, 1.

But with Luis not starting school until 2020, Owens has decided to stay at PBC and to chase a third straight flag.

Owens also works as a teacher at Palm Beach Currumbin State High and is one of four coaches who run the school’s football program.

“I always wanted to coach again but I wanted to make sure it fitted in well with my family,” Owens said.

“There is a lot of time and effort that goes into it but I spoke with my wife and boys.

“My boys love footy. It’s a great club with great people and I love being part of it.”

The decision means Owens will go into his fourth season as head coach and takes his years of service to the QAFL to a decade. Owens spent five years as an assistant at Labrador before working in the same position at Palm Beach Currumbin for 12 months.

Owens took over from former Lions head coach Daryn Cresswell in 2015, taking the club to a grand final in 2016 before winning two flags in 2017 and 2018.

Broadbeach grand final coach Brett Andrews has stood down while Labrador coach Aaron Shattock has also left his post. Shattock has been replaced by Liam Burke.