Perry’s final crow at club
AFTER helping Burdekin re-emerge as a finals contender in 2021, mentor Chris Perry will leave a pair of sizeable shoes to fill at the club.
Perry has informed the club he step down from his position as A Grade coach next season but remained adamant he would not be walking out the doors at the Roosters.
He is expected to work closely with the club’s reserves side next season.
Perry was a cornerstone of the Roosters’ success this season, improving from a slow start to book a spot in the Townsville District Rugby League grand finals.
He has also been the club’s most successful coach, having led them to back-to-back A Grade titles in 2000 and 2001 and also co-coached them to the 2003 title with Mal Barnes.
While he has begun the lengthy search for a successor, club president Mick Brombal was adamant Perry’s unrelenting work this year could not be understated.
“The game has gone to a different level with its professionalism and the club appreciates everything Chris has done to get us to that level,” Brombal said. “I think he might be able to sit back and enjoy his footy now. I am very proud of him and what he achieved this season. The work that he put in in the background and what he has put in to keep the team together goes unnoticed a lot of the time.
“There was a lot of light on what (Dan) Beasely did for us this season, and rightfully so. He showed us another level of football; we need to try and get on that next level.
If we can keep going up, we might be closer to the big dance.”
Brombal said all coaching positions at the Roosters next season had been put out for expressions of interest, and the responses had already started flying in. The club will hold its annual general meeting next month.