TALL ORDER WITH NEW COACH BUT BOND READY
BOND University players will look to use their midseason coaching switch as an opportunity to restart their stuttering Queensland Premier Rugby campaign.
The Bull Sharks confirmed this week that head coach Brad Harris had accepted a full-time position with Fiji Rugby effective immediately and would be replaced by his predecessor Grant Anderson. The club have just one victory heading into their Round 8 home match against Norths today.
“We all had a good discussion about it on Monday when we were told (of Harris’ departure),” Irish recruit Matt Dalton said.
“We’re almost viewing it as a positive, to wipe the slate clean and get a clean start on the rest of the season.”
The 20-year-old is the latest one-year recruit through Bond’s Irish connections that have seen the likes of Oisin Heffernan spend time at Robina in the past.
“I only got a couple of games this season for Ulster,” Dalton said.
“Our pre-season is starting in the next couple of weeks and they wanted me to get a bit of game time, get a bit of experience and try to work on my game.”
The 201cm lock or blindside flanker will be with Bond for the rest of the season and hopes to build on his club debut off the bench in last week’s loss to Wests.
Anderson liked his first impression.
“I was really impressed with Matty Dalton last week when he came on,” he said.
“He’s someone we are really glad to have around our squad and will really push for starting selection in the next few weeks.”