Adcock tipped to shine

Fullback shifted to wing for Foley Shield clash

HERBERT River skipper Mitch Seri has tipped big things for off-season recruit Aaron Adcock as the flying fullback suits up for his first Foley Shield.

Adcock has started the Townsville District Rugby League season in fine form at the back for the Crushers, scoring twice and setting up countless others in the opening two rounds.

But he has been called on to the wing for the Townsville side with Centrals fullback Jesse Pomare-anderson handed the No. 1 jersey. While the best of his talents lie in his silky ball work and impressive running game, Seri believes the Crushers pick-up can still have an impact out wide.

His versatility is one of the main reasons Seri made the call last year to lure him from Charters Towers.

“I could tell he could play footy,” Seri said.

“He had been around the game a bit, I liked the way he played. He was easily Charters

Towers’ best in 2019. He grew up in the cattle stations in rural Queensland and is working in cattle now. He is a bushy through and through and he just fits well in our set-up.

“I have a lot of time for the bloke. It is a cliche but the most important rule when it comes to recruiting is to recruit good people first, and good footballers second. He just fit the bill in both.”

Adcock has a rugby union background, having played flyhalf for Ipswich Grammar while he boarded there, and the silky ball work is still a crucial part of his game.

“He has played well in the halves in the past and his best spot is probably at five-eighth,” Seri said.

It is expected Adcock will move into the halves when local league returns next weekend with Seri facing an extended period on the sidelines with a dislocated wrist.

The Crushers coach has backed Adcock to be the perfect foil to the off-the-cuff style of five-eighth Aaron Solari.

Solari has also started the season in fine form and was on the Townsville radar for the annual Foley Shield tournament but was forced to pull the pin due to family reasons.

He is not the only Herbert River player out after Damien Devietti also withdrew from the weekend’s action.

The Crushers will be represented by backrower Mitch

Grimes and dummy-half recruit Oscar Carter who will come off the bench in an exciting one-two punch around the ruck with skipper Nathan Norford.

The Foley Shield will also double as the regional qualifiers for the XXXX A Grade Divisional Championships. The winner of the weekend’s action will go head to head with the winner of Central Queensland’s 47th Battalion on June 18-19. The winner of that clash will take on the winner of the southeast Queensland Chairman’s Challenge on July 24-25 in Brisbane.