Dalby Diehards start recruiting fresh talent for upcoming 30th season
From a brand new coach who is a former Q-Cup player and a fresh fullback who’s been dubbed ‘lightning quick’, the Diehards aren’t wasting a second on recruiting for the 2023 season. Check out the latest signings here.
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The Dalby rugby league management team has begun recruiting new players for the upcoming 2023 season, and the signings so far boast promising skills and talent that will help take the Diehards into their highly-anticipated 30th season.
First of the fresh faces is newly appointed coach of the A-grade team and former Queensland Cup player himself, Jason Connors.
The Ipswich man told News Corp his focus for the year was instilling a stronger sense of competitiveness throughout the team.
“I’m excited and optimistic,” he said.
“We’re working on being competitive, then building combinations and morale.
“Hence why community is pretty important, we’re doing some things for our training camp that’s going to involve the community which is good.”
The former Ipswich Brothers’ coach said while the team had signed a couple of new recruits there was still a while to go with the loss of previous players.
“There’s a few players we lost last year but we’re back in training which has been good,” he said.
“It’s hard to get players to come to Dalby just because of the drive, and I thought looking outside the box we’re going to recruit a couple of guys that actually will be here full time, work here and enjoy the community.”
The new Dalby coach announced he would be recruiting three players who were making the move from Fiji to join the club.
“I was in Fiji in December and I recruited three guys to come over here and work and play league,” he said.
“They’ll bring a bit of flare to our football side but also buy into the community by working in Dalby as well.”
The three future Diehards players are currently in the process of having visas approved before they can officially call Dalby home.
At the end of 2022 the Diehards also welcomed promising fullback and former Goondiwindi player, Chris Woodbridge to the team.
“He’s a good signing for the club,” coach Connors said.
“He brings speed and youth to the team, he’s energetic (and to) win competitions like this I think you just need a fast attacking side, and I’ve recruited that.”
Woodbridge said the decision to join the Dalby footy club wasn’t a difficult one as he wanted to follow in the footsteps of his dad.
“I’ve always wanted to play where my dad played, my brothers played here as well so they’ve all had a season out in Dalby and I think mine is overdue,” he said.
The 21-year-old said he has been travelling from Toowoomba to Dalby to play golf with some of his teammates on weekends and he and his partner Deidre Murray have been enjoying what the community has to offer.
“I’ve always thought Dalby was a good place, it feels good to be part of it now,” he said.
The footballer said he’s ready to take the field, and “go out and do whatever (the team) wants me to do”.
“I’m just keen for the season.”
Coach Connors said the team unfortunately lost five out of six of last year’s recruits, however returning this year was Brisbane man, Tavita Folau.
“I’m under no false security that it’s going to be easy,” he said.
“But the community gets behind their football which is good and they’ve got a good crowd too.”
The Dalby Herald will continue to update the story with the latest signings and recruit information.
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