Palm Beach Currumbin Alleygators signing Ethan Lolesio expecting big things in 2019 Coast rugby season

IT’S the season of hope and Palm Beach Currumbin marquee recruit Ethan Lolesio has left no doubt about the fact he thinks the Alleygators can shake up the 2019 Gold Coast District Rugby Union competition.

IT’S the season of hope and Palm Beach Currumbin marquee recruit Ethan Lolesio has left no doubt about the fact he thinks the Alleygators can shake up the 2019 Gold Coast District Rugby Union competition.

Ahead of their home season-opener against Helensvale this Saturday, Lolesio has backed his new team to be a force.

“Our goal this year is to make a name for ourselves and pretty much bring back Palm Beach to how it used to be,” he said, referring to the club’s run of three straight first grade grand final appearances between 2011 and 2013.

“We’re definitely trying to make the top four this year.

“I can tell with the bunch of lads we have that it’s going to be a good year. Everyone is willing to give it their all and play for each other.

“We have got a team to watch out for, that’s for sure.”

Ethan Lolesio. Picture: Glenn Hampson

A first-up clash with the Hogs will give better insight into whether that hope will translate into reality but the facts are that both 2018 grand finalists Colleges and Surfers Paradise have experienced mass turnover and the Alleygators have pushed hard over the summer to turn things around.

Among those steps taken at Bienvenue Drive was to lure Lolesio into following rugby manager Michael Bell from Surfers Paradise.

The former Samoa under-20 representative and 2014 graduate of The Southport School is expected to be handed his preferred No.15 jersey.

Lolesio, whose brother Noah has been signed by the Brumbies and sister Ivana is an up-and-coming sevens player, believes the biggest lessons his new club can take from his old Surfers Paradise juggernaut is to place a high price on commitment and training intensity.

Ethan Lolesio runs the ball during Surfers Paradise’s preliminary final win over Gold Coast Eagles last year. Picture: Richard Gosling

Alleygators coach Anthony Dwyer hailed Lolesio as a “remarkable” player and is excited to see what he produces on match days after being blown away by his evident talent on the training paddock.

“I haven’t seen very many players with his ability,” Dwyer said.

“He threw a pass at training one Tuesday night and our fitness trainer, who has been strength and conditioning coach for some premier rugby clubs in Sydney and has seen a lot of good footballers, he came to me and said ‘I don’t think I have ever seen anyone throw a pass like that’.

“And none of the defenders or the ball receiver knew what had happened.”

All Round 1 matches will kick off at 4.10pm.