Clinton Toopi pulls on the boots for Ormeau Shearers, joins as assistant coach

A former Titan has answered the call to help out Rugby League Gold Coast battlers Ormeau.

FORMER Titans centre Clinton Toopi has answered a call to help out Rugby League Gold Coast battlers Ormeau.

Toopi has joined the Shearers to assist head coach Julius Kuresa and even pulled on the boots against Runaway Bay on Saturday.

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His presence alone wasn’t enough to stop the side from sinking to a 40-4 loss but Kuresa believes the 39-year-old will be an important contributor in their ongoing rebuild.

“Our team is predominantly Kiwi so a lot of these guys looked up to him and idolised him when he was playing for the Warriors and Kiwis. He’s been a real asset,” Kuresa said.

Clinton Toopi during his Titans days.

“He didn’t come onboard to jump on the field but he put his hand up when we were a bit short on numbers.

“He has still got it. He’s a bit short of a gallop but his work in defence is just phenomenal.

“Unfortunately Bay were too good for us. We didn’t aim up and that’s a credit to Bay and the pressure that they put on our boys.”

Clinton Toopi previously was a player-coach at Runaway Bay. Picture: Adam Head

Kuresa also reserved praise for captain Jesse Malcolm, who has been a standout all season.

“In the 10 years that I’ve seen him running around in Gold Coast rugby league, I haven’t seen him play any better … he has grown as a player, as a man and as a leader.”

Southport defeated Currumbin 48-22 while Tugun became the first team this year to inflict defeat on Burleigh with an impressive 18-16 boilover yesterday.