Dolphins to tackle Pirates
Youth faces the unknown
Surfers Paradise coach Johnny Ngauamo admits he is in the dark over what sort of challenge Bond Pirates will offer on Saturday.
The Dolphins orchestrated their grand final revenge over Griffith Uni Colleges Knights to open the 2023 Gold Coast District Rugby Union season, calling on a host of players from second grade to back up and perform.
While the 17-14 triumph from the collective may be the perfect way to open their account, Ngauamo declared his young side would not be taking Bond for granted.
Despite Bond’s struggles last season, a new coaching staff presents signs of change and very little appears to be known about the group — which started 2023 with a bye.
But Ngauamo said the Dolphins’ relatively young players preferred that element of the unknown; adamant it would ensure they enter the clash eager to impress regardless of who waited in the other corner.
“Not at all,” Ngauamo said when asked whether he knew much about his looming rivals.
“It’s a good thing being such a young squad and not having any preconceptions. They’re still young and they’re still trying things, but we know nothing about Bond so we’ll approach them like any opposition. Our average age is under 25, so our squad is really young and that was another thing we were trying to do – bring through the young fellas from last year in second and third grade just to get some ex
perience in first grade and take over.”
Among the Dolphins rookies plotting a long-term future in the top level is fly-half Mitch Currie, whose boot proved the difference against Knights. Despite the defending champions out scoring the Dolphins in tries, Harry Rogerson’s flawless performance off the kicking tee edged his side ahead of the contest. However Ngauamo said the willingness of the entire senior group to back up from recent encounters perhaps served as the greatest motivation to thrive.
“I think our 10 is probably a spot we wanted to cement with our young fellas and Mitch Currie stepped up, he was in seconds last year and played a couple of games form the bench in first grade,” he said.
“This year he’s put his foot forward and trained hard and it showed on Saturday.”
In the round’s other fixtures, Coomera will take on Gold Coast Eagles while Nerang host Helensvale.