Skipper is chasing cross-code success
BOND Pirates co-captain Damien Timms is hoping to bring a winning culture to his junior club on return from rugby league success.
The fullback started at the Miami-based Gold Coast District Rugby Union club in under-14s, playing six years before jumping ship to the Mudgeeraba Redbacks.
“We took out the reserve grade (Doug Lipp Cup) last year and then I came back here because it has always been here and they haven’t won a premiership in first grade so it would be good to do that or come close to it,” Timms said. “We only lost the one game last year. Losing teaches us something different, being humble and stuff like that but bringing (three Redbacks teammates) too, they were keen to try new waters and see how they go in a different code.”
The Pirates chalked up their first win of the season against Gold Coast Eagles last weekend, having pushed both Nerang and Surfers Paradise previously.
Timms was “proud” to be one of three skippers instated for this year, alongside Sam Webb and Alex Holmes.
The latter joined from Palm Beach Currumbin in February and coach Lincoln
Matehaere felt the frontrower brought a new leadership dimension capable of sparking an upturn in the Pirates’ fortunes.
“I didn’t overly agree with the direction the (Alleygators)
were going,” Holmes revealed.
“Linc gave me a call about coming here, so I had a chat to him and was just on the same page with what he was saying.
“I was really just looking to enjoy footy again and his direction was something that could accommodate that.”
The Pirates have looked a different side altogether from the outfit that were twice beaten by more than 100 points by Griffith University Colleges last year and Holmes, 27, believes they are winning back respect through sheer competitiveness.
“We aren’t here just to make up the numbers and I think credit to Linc for how hard he worked in the offseason on recruitment,” he said.
The Pirates face Surfers at Albert Park in Round 5 action tomorrow.