Brandon’s Bulldogs set for big things

RUGBY LEAGUE: Respected coach Mark Brandon believes Beerwah can return to Rugby League Sunshine Coast’s top flight next year.

RUGBY LEAGUE: Respected coach Mark Brandon believes Beerwah can return to Rugby League Sunshine Coast's top flight next year.

The Bulldogs dropped out of the competition at the end of 2012 after struggling to be competitive and has since forged a path in lower grades.

The club has made some significant strides but the injection of Brandon is a genuine boost.

After steering Maroochydore to successive grand finals, he is intent on helping the Dogs back into division one and providing The Kennel faithful with something to really cheer about.

"They've locked me in for two years and the object is to try and get them back in (to the top tier)," he said.

"Hopefully we can knock the division two final over this year and then take them into first grade next year, providing we meet the criteria."

Brandon already has a 34-man squad, which started training last year.

"I've brought A-grade pre-season conditions to them and they've really handled it well," he said.

"As hard as it is the results will hopefully be there come the back-end of the year."

In fact, the determination already appears to be paying dividends

In promising signs, the Bulldogs defeated a Maroochydore division one/two side 24-4 in a pre-season trial at Beerwah recently.

The players are

excited about the prospect of getting into division one.

"At my first night at training we sat down and I told them the plan I had and the feedback was exceptional," Brandon said.

"It was like 'yes, A-grade next year, we can't wait."

The squad includes some influential Beerwah regulars and some talented incoming players from Caloundra, Kawana and Kilcoy.

Brandon, who lives at Landsborough, left the Swans after a largely successful stint, in which he came agonisingly close to breaking Maroochydore's 15-year premiership drought.

"(But) I got to a point where I didn't know if I could offer them anymore," he said.

"My time was up (at Wises Road) but I haven't walked away from the game.

"I'm still like a puppy with two tails at Beerwah, taking this bunch of young guys on. They're a team which has a thirst for the game and they're really soaking up what I'm bringing to them.

"They've been such a colourful club over the years. They had a bit of track record a few years ago of being roadies (road kill) but it's such a different club now and there's some really good people working it."

-STEELE TAYLOR