Gallego a weapon for Bebb

Rays’ bright future

WHILE flyhalfs and fullbacks might get all the accolades, Brolgas under-19s coach Mitch Bebb will be looking to his engine room to provide the winning formula in their clash with Cairns.

It is Burdekin prop forward JJ Gallego that Bebb has identified as the key weapon for the Brolgas despite not having seen him play a full game before. It is the work Gallego has done in his few training sessions with the representative side that has done enough to ignite the excitement in is coach.

“Props are such an important part of the game, especially in the set piece,” Bebb said.

“The few times he has trained with us he has really impressed.”

North Ward scrumhalf Declan Marchioni will captain the Brolgas after playing the majority of last season in the Old Boys senior ranks.

Bebb said recent training sessions had led to the coach being quietly confident in their chances. “Two weeks ago I would say we didn’t have a chance, but after the way the boys trained on Wednesday I think for sure we’re confident,” he said.

NORTHERN Rays coaching director Vicki Wilson believes the talent is there to give the Sapphire Series title a genuine shake, however recruits could be on the horizon to assist in, not only their immediate future, but long-term aspirations.

The former Australian Diamond has joined forces with the club this year, in a bid to take it to a level capable of rivalling the intensity of competition in Queensland’s southeast corner.

With the statewide competition set to begin on April 11, the Rays have been in the throes of an intense pre-season — featuring satellite camps in the talent pool regions across North Queensland, as well as sessions spearheaded by Wilson in Tully.

Wilson said netball had evolved dramatically since her playing days — it was now a far faster product then what it was, and the Rays’ Brisbanebased rivals had been exposed to those conditions regularly.

She said that is where recruits may be called upon in the lead-up to the campaign, to ensure even at training the local contingent are being pushed to the next level.

“I think it’s really important you have to have your nucleus from North Queensland without a doubt,” Wilson said. “But if you can bring in some experienced players to help raise the level of the cohort that’s great for the girls short term and in the long term.

“It’s a fast game, it’s played at high intensity, and it’s a very different game to what was played 10 or 20 years ago.

“What we’re trying to do is get the girls up to speed here with what has been happening down in the southeast corner for a number of years.”

Wilson said she has always had an affinity with North Queensland, having coached in the region even during her playing days.

She said that experience gave her an understanding of the geographical difficulties faced by athletes in the region.

It means aspiring netballers do not have the same ability to train in a team as others do — much of their dedication and efforts are fuelled by their own personal desire.

For Wilson, tearing down the barriers which have hindered North Queensland athletes in the past means not only bringing the players up to scratch, but also improving the standard of coaching all the way down to the grassroots level.

She said if that elite standard was being filtered throughout the netball landscape in the regions, the talent would inevitably rise.

“My job is not only about helping the players, it’s about creating that environment for the coaches as well so they lift their standard and we keep driving coaching standards, which inspires the girls to lift their level,” Wilson said.

“A lot of their training is self-directed, we’ve got one young kid who lives down in the Burdekin and she’s out at the farm — that has to be selfdirected training.

“It’s a very different set up to a team in the southeast corner.”

STORM hooker Brandon Smith admits coach Craig Bellamy’s looming decision on his future will be a “huge contributing factor” in his future plans.

The New Zealand international said yesterday his preference was to stay with Storm, although his future at the NRL premiers is under a cloud.

He said last month he was willing to leave Storm to secure a full-time No.9 jumper.

Melbourne gave him permission to explore his options elsewhere for 2022, with an early release possible if a player swap lands Storm a suitable replacement.

He has been linked to the

Gold Coast Titans among other clubs, but so far Smith remains a Storm player.

“I know what I want to do, which is just to go out and play,” Smith said.

“I see myself as being a really happy person in a Melbourne Storm jersey, and I see Jahrome Hughes just resigned for three years and I think he took something like a $200,000 pay cut.

“That’s just a testament to the jersey we wear and how much respect we have for it, and I’ve got a lot of respect for this jersey.

“I really want to be in a Melbourne Storm jersey.”