Runaway Bay Seagulls pivot Jimmy Poland’s important mission with Australian Anti Ice Campaign

Jimmy Poland will play a pivotal role for Runaway Bay in their Rugby League Gold Coast qualifying final tomorrow but it’s the message he is spreading off the field that is all the more important: Don’t be like me.

DON’T be like me.

Jimmy Poland will play a pivotal role for Runaway Bay in their Rugby League Gold Coast qualifying final tomorrow but it’s the message he is spreading off the field that is all the more important.

The 29-year-old has been to jail four times. He’s determined not to make it five, having made “some of the biggest changes in my life”.

He doesn’t want the next generation making the same mistakes he has made, particularly relating to drugs.

“I’m a presenter with the Australian Anti Ice Campaign,” Poland said.

“I do a lot of youth work and talking in schools about the dangers of ice and the dangers of making the wrong choices.

Jimmy Poland. Picture: Richard Gosling

“I have got two kids of my own and all of my mates have got kids. I don’t want to see any of our youth go through the things that I have put myself and my family through.”

Multiple figures in the RLGC competition believe Runaway Bay would have won the 2017 premiership had Poland not been in jail – a three-month stint ending last November caused by a breach of parole related to alcohol consumption.

“Being inside, it was hard to hear that the boys did lose (the grand final to Burleigh),” the five-eighth recalled.

He and Bay have another shot this year, however, coming into finals as the second-ranked team. Tomorrow they face Tweed Heads at Bycroft Oval, having won 32-16 in an exact preview last weekend, for a place in the grand final qualifier against Currumbin.

Poland, who played with Ben Te’o and Bodene Thompson during his Keebra Park days and captained the school in 2006 before briefly linking with the Wests Tigers, holds the keys to Bay’s chances as their chief game manager.

Poland’s halves partner Conner Toia played for Redcliffe in the Intrust Super Cup last year. Picture: Bradley Cooper

Halfback Conner Toia, an ex-Intrust Super Cup player, provides more of the X-factor.

“Our combination is getting better and better each week. I was out with injury at the start of the year … the last few weeks it has started to click and I’m enjoying playing with Conner, it’s awesome,” Poland said.

Bay, who are a chance to have star second-rower Andrew Vela back on deck, enter the clash having won nine of their past 10 matches while Tweed have won only five games in that period.

Today, Southport and Tugun go head-to-head with their season on the line in an elimination final.

The Seahawks have won their past three games to sneak into finals but will be without fullback Corey Morris at Owen Park due to a one-match suspension.

RLGC finals week one

Saturday

Southport v Tugun at Owen Park, 3pm

Sunday

Runaway Bay v Tweed Heads at Bycroft Oval, 2pm