Bull Sharks premiership winning coach Mick Heenan has gone all in on his title defence by bolstering his coaching ranks with the appointment of All Blacks great Rico Gear.
After guiding Bond to a historic maiden Queensland Premier Rugby title, Heenan has recommitted to the club and wasted no time strengthening his coaching ranks, charging Gear with tightening the defence as the Bull Sharks chase more silverware - and a crack at national honours.
Gear, who has spent recent seasons shaping Bond’s Colts, many of whom are now part of Heenan’s first grade squad, said the move felt like a natural progression.
“I’m pretty excited. I’ve spent a number of years with the Colts program and really enjoyed that, but when the role opened up with the prems, I felt it was time to get involved at that level,” Gear said.
“It’s a really strong coaching group. Everyone’s got a different style, so it’s going to be a great dynamic.
“I’m looking forward to re-establishing relationships with some of the boys I coached in the Colts program and really focusing on tightening up our defensive systems.”
Known for their agility and fast paced attack, the Bull Sharks are looking to strike a better balance with a focus on the side’s defensive unit.
“I'm really keen to knuckle down and focus on the defence side of things it's a big part of the game,” Gear said.
“When you look at Bond, we are a good attacking side but sometimes our defence can let us down a bit.
“I think in the last two years coaching, I've had a bit more of a defensive focus, particularly with the Colts group. It requires good structure and can be quite technical and then there's the contact stuff as well.”
Gear joins a proven coaching unit, with Bond Rugby’s 2025 Club Person of The Year, Petrus Du Pleiss and former Scottish rugby union player, Ben Toolis remaining in their current positions as assistant coaches.
Bond’s Director of Rugby, Sean Hedger, said Gear’s elevation was a key part of the club’s title defence and ambitions to win the Australian Club Championships.
“It is great to see Rico progressing from Colts in to Grades in 2026,” Hedger said.
“Despite the success of 2025, Mick is keen and hungry to achieve more in 2026.
“He’s focussed on winning his second Australian Club Championship, and first with Bond, in early March 2026 and wining a back-to-back Hospital Cup Premierships.”