The Bull Sharks’ future looks bright with a host of young players impressing in the season’s first trial against Souths on Saturday.
The Magpies already had a trial under their belt and it showed as they were able to score late tries to secure wins against tiring Bond outfits in Colts 1 and Premier Grade.
The Colts 2 and Second Grade trials both ended in draws.
Seniors
It was new Bull Sharks coach Mick Heenan’s first look at his squad in action against serious opposition and he came away pleased with their physicality.
“I was very happy with the effort and aggression shown in both attack and defence,” he said.
“We asked our players to set standards in those areas and by and large they delivered.
“We will continue to improve our execution as we get closer to our regular season kick-off after Easter.”
Heenan promised his squad a blank slate heading into season 2024 and urged any player who believe they
deserved to be in a higher grade to force their selection through solid pre-season performances.
And he was thrilled with the way several Colts players made the step-up to senior level and has promised to inject more young blood into the side that will travel to Canberra to play a trial against the Uni North Owls at Duntroon.
“I was impressed with some of our young players getting their first taste of men’s rugby,” he said.
“Zeb Misios, Rocco Gollings and Ieuan Cornelius all had some good moments and showed huge potential for guys that are still Colts-qualified.
“And we will have an opportunity to play some more of our up-and-coming players this week when our Reds Academy products Harry Bell, Fergus Gillan and Oliver Barrett become available for the first time.”
Colts
The Colts program is flourishing under Rico Gear and with up to 60 players at training most nights, competition for positions is hot as the season opener draws closer.
They will play more trials against the Gold Coast Eagles at Surfers Paradise Rugby Club on Saturday.
The former All Black says Reef Newdick had been a standout across the pre-season and continued that form against Souths. He also liked what he saw from Kobe Waikato and Jarvis Kaltenback.
“Reef at 10 has been great, Kobe continues to impress, and I have liked the physicality that our lock Jarvis plays with,” he said.
The only area Gear feels needs bolstering is the depth of front rowers, especially with some of the standout Colts stepping up to play in the senior grades.
“The fitness is good across both groups and now we will work more on combinations in both attack and defence and get the two teams settled,” he said.
“Our scrum is a work in progress with the front row stocks low at the moment.’’