Northcliffe snare rival club’s stars

THE pulling power of Australian surf lifesaving most successful club has delivered two more certified stars to national powerhouse Northcliffe.

Nutri-Grain Ironman Series champions Matt Bevilacqua and Matt Poole have joined Northcliffe’s stable from Kurrawa after finishing second and third respectively in the 2019-20 elite series.

The pair are currently at the peak of their powers, having finished on the podium of the Nutri-Grain series five times between them since moving to the Gold Coast from Mooloolaba in 2015. More recently, they were first and second in the 2019 Coolangatta Gold.

And now after spending the past five years pushing each other to their limits at training, their careers will intertwine once more – albeit under the maroon star following the departure of Kurrawa head coach Barry Newman last month.

Now 32, Poole’s move marks a homecoming more than a decade in the making.

The 2017 Nutri-Grain series champion first joined Northcliffe in 2007 when he moved from Sydney and won the Australian under-19 ironman title.

“It’s been a crazy 12 years in between,” Poole said.

“I started my professional career here and qualified for the series for the first time so it’s surreal to start my professional career at Northcliffe and now to be finishing my career here as well.”

Fresh off finishing third in the elite series, Poole is hopeful a fresh start will allow him to reach the same form that saw him leading before injury and illness struck as it did the year prior when he was felled by pneumonia.

“I’m hoping third time’s a charm, to be honest, because the last two years, for one reason or another, I’ve watched the series title slip through my fingers,” he said.

“I had a solid lead last season after two rounds but then had to have two surgeries on my leg due to an infection and I struggled mentally and physically to recapture that form.

“I’ve led early both years but now I want to finish the season as I start it, at peak fitness.

“To join a club who has been the benchmark over the past few years, success is contagious and you can’t help walk into this club and not get the best out of yourself. I’ve already sat down with Kevin Morrison (senior men’s coach) and I think we’ll come up with a bulletproof strategy. He’s worked alongside Shannon Eckstein for years now so he has a ton of knowledge and wisdom.”

Fresh off his maiden Coolangatta Gold victory, Bevilacqua, 28, believes a move to Northcliffe will allow him to excel even further.

“To go to the next level of my career, I needed a strong club like Northcliffe to take me there so I’m really excited to integrate into the squad,” the 2018 series champion said.

“I’ve always been open to moving my career forward and I’ve gone through a few hurdles with obviously Mooloolaba’s surf sports program crashing so I’m always looking at new options.

“Kurrawa helped me achieved the best results of my career so far but I can’t wait to keep moving forward.

“I started my professional career a bit later (after) coming from Tasmania so I’m still full of fire and the next level for me is still coming. I really think those results will come in the next few years.”

Northcliffe surf sports manager Mark Williams said the club was honoured to welcome both athletes to see out the remainder of their professional careers at the club.

“They bring a wealth of experience to our men’s squad who already have a great winning culture but having finished second and third this year, they know how to win as well,” he said.

“They’re fantastic guys and hard trainers but it will be amazing for our kids to be around guys like them and having role models at the club.”