Tugun sign Michael Burgess & Andy Bracek for 2020 Rugby League Gold Coast A grade season
Tugun have moved to rectify two problem areas from last year’s Rugby League Gold Coast campaign with the signing of a former Intrust Super Cup halfback and ex-Super League prop.
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TUGUN have moved to rectify two problem areas from last year’s Rugby League Gold Coast campaign with the signing of halfback Michael Burgess and prop Andy Bracek.
A Grade semi-finalists last season, the Seahawks were never able to settle on a long-term halves combination, with Jacob Grant spending time at halfback before regular hooker Sam Meskell was shifted into the no.7 for the back half of the season.
Front-row muscle was another issue for coach Clint Barends, but he believes Burgess and Bracek will go a long way towards helping his side take the next step in 2020.
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A one-time Intrust Super Cup regular with Tweed, Burgess sat out last season after playing for Currumbin in 2018, while Bracek, 32, racked up more than 60 UK Super League appearances before helping Ballina to the NRRRL premiership last season.
The pair are the major additions to a Seahawks squad that remains largely unchanged, with captain and prop Nick Harrold the notable absentee after moving to Cairns for work.
“We’re happy with where we’re at. Both of them (Burgess and Bracek) are big buys,” Barends said.
“I felt we were a bit small last year so I think Andy is a good buy for us. You can never have too many front rowers.
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“(Burgess) fits the club and he’s a good bloke. Just having that stability in the halves will go a long way for us this year.
“It just bolsters the squad a little bit. In this competition (their experience) will be invaluable.
“For us last year, we probably underperformed to a certain degree. Just injury-wise, I don’t think I’ve ever coached or played in a side with so many injuries.
“By the time we got into the semi finals, we were just too beaten up. We’re probably looking to approach this year with shorter sessions to give blokes a bit more time to recover and hopefully the back end of the year they’ll be a bit more fresh and will have less injuries.”
Barends said he would wait until closer to the season to make a decision on Harrold’s captaincy replacement, but admitted he was spoiled for choice.
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“There’s a few (candidates). The halfback there, Andy, Sam Meskell has captained Tweed Heads in the Q Cup and been part of their leadership group,” he said.
“There’s a whole range we could use but I’ll wait a little bit and see who fits the bill. Whoever it is I don’t think it will matter too much, we’ve got lots of boys who have been there and done it before.”
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