‘Didn’t have to reinvent the wheel:’ Bilambil captain-coach Hayden Hansen shakes up team

Bilambil’s new captain-coach is just two games into his new job, but he’s already put his stamp on the team by shaking things up.

Alex Fitzhugh has moved to hooker in a shake-up of the Jets’ spine. Picture: DC Sports Photography

After taking over the reins as Bilambil captain-coach in the off-season, Hayden Hansen knew he didn’t want to rock the boat too much.

Following a premiership in 2022, making the preliminary final in 2023 and then narrowly losing the grand final last season, the lock forward knew the Jets had the potential to challenge for the title again this year.

“When I took on the role I wanted to retain as many players as I could, which I’ve managed to do,” Hansen said.

“So I knew I didn’t have to reinvent the wheel, just put my own spin on things and stay in touch with what we need as a group so that side of it has been good.”

But after just one pre-season and two games in charge, Hansen certainly has put his own spin on things and has already made his presence felt on the back of a gutsy call on some of the club’s most experienced players.

New Bilambil captain-coach Hayden Hansen has already put his stamp on the team. Picture: Max Ellis

In what is a break from previous seasons, Hansen has shaken up the Jets’ line-up, moving five-eighth Alex Fitzhugh into hooker and pushing club legend Tom Rowles onto the bench, along with another experienced Bilambil stalwart in backrower Tyson Donnelly.

Combined with new recruits Michael Pokia at fullback and Aaron Hill at five-eighth, the Jets have kicked off the season with a new-look spine.

“We wanted to move Al to hooker. Rowlesy’s sort of in the twilight of his career so we wanted to try and get the best out of everyone,” said Hansen.

“It’s a really important move, to be honest, and maybe the most important move that I wanted to make: to put Al at hooker and find another six.

“Moving Tommy Rowles and Tyson Donnelly to the bench was a bit of a weird one because they’re not bench players. But we had a chat as mates about how if we can really buy into that sort of rotation I think it will be really valuable for us.

“They’ve taken that in their stride and it’s such a breath of fresh air when they come on, they really help us. Not necessarily by changing the game but bringing us back to where we need to be, almost like at kick-off again because they’re those older heads who usually start.

“So now they come off the bench and change the game in a different way. It’s not just about energy and enthusiasm, they bring us back level.”

Thomas Rowles has started the season in a bench rotation role. Picture: DC Sports Photography

But before Hansen could put his plan into place, he needed to find another five-eighth, with his new number six coming to the club in a rather unconventional way.

As it turned out, Hill was the roommate of new signing Thomas Biddle, who mentioned that his friend was looking for a run somewhere.

“We struck gold finding Aaron Hill,” said Hansen.

“It was a bit of an odd one. He was playing for Burleigh last year and I know the Burleigh guys to some degree and had heard some good things about him.

Tyson Donnelly is another experienced player who has seen his role change in the rotation. Photo: Max Ellis

“But honestly, he just came over as someone looking to play some footy. He went the right way about it and he’s found himself in the six jersey and has really made a fist of it. Credit to him, he’s a good player.”

While still early days, the captain-coach’s first big move has been a success so far, with Bilambil following up its 40-6 round one hammering of Tweed Coast with a gutsy 24-12 win over Evans Head to be one of four teams who’ve kicked off the season with two wins from two.

But with a long season ahead, he’s not getting carried away with things.

“It’s worked quite well so far but there’s obviously a long way to go so we’re definitely staying humble,” said Hansen. “It’s only round two but I’m definitely happy with where we are.”