New Mudgeeraba coach Jamie Boelen makes first move, signing Morgan Zeeno and Matt Hibbs

JAMIE Boelen has made his first major moves as Mudgeeraba coach, signing a former Australian Joeys striker and a returning midfielder for next year’s Gold Coast Premier League.

JAMIE Boelen has made his first major moves as Mudgeeraba coach, signing former Australian Joeys striker Morgan Zeeno and returning midfielder Matt Hibbs for next year’s Gold Coast Premier League.

Preparing for his first season as a senior head coach, Boelen has turned to Zeeno and Hibbs to help steer the Wallabies off the bottom of the ladder.

HUGO FOLLOWS UNCLE’S FOOTBALL PATH

Zeeno, a teammate of Socceroos Robbie Kruse, Matthew Spiranovic and David Williams in the Australian under-17 side that famously thrashed Tonga 26-0 in 2005, will return to the game after a few seasons off with work commitments.

A Mudgeeraba junior, he also trialled for Gold Coast United and Brisbane Roar as a 20-year-old before stints with Palm Beach and Coomera.

Hibbs, 25, was a Premier League regular at Palm Beach before joining Murwillumbah, where he made just two appearances this year after suffering a torn kidney.

BENIGNO BLOCKBUSTER TO KICK OFF SEASON

“I like Jamie so it was a pretty easy decision (to join Mudgeeraba),” Hibbs said.

“When I was at Palm Beach he was coaching reserves so he’d seen me playing first grade and I got to know him there. He hit me up once he got the job (with the Wallabies) and wanted to make me one of his main signings, which was good.

Morgan Zeeno (right) in action for Palm Beach in 2010.

“The last couple of years I haven’t enjoyed myself under coaches I’ve played for. I know Jamie pretty well and feel like I will be able to play better under him.

WALLABIES TURN TO PACIFIC MINNOWS IN PLAYER SEARCH

“New challenges are always good and there are a lot of young blokes at Mudgeeraba so we will see how it goes. After going to a few trainings and hearing about the players he wants to bring in, I’m pretty keen to play there.

Mudgeeraba coach Jamie Boelen. Picture: Mike Batterham

“Now that the Gold Coast Knights are up (in the NPL) I reckon there’s definitely fourth spot (up for grabs) but it’s mostly about just improving, playing good footy and competing with the top sides.”

ACADEMY’S VISION FOR POTENTIAL HOME

Boelen said he had also locked in rising Mudgeeraba siblings Drew and Ryan Collins.

“They were by far the best young boys at Mudgee the last few seasons,” Boelen said.