True Alleygators will reap rewards as numbers boom at PBC

When the team’s regular first graders walked out the door in 2019, only those willing to bleed for the club remained. Those true Alleygators will form the backbone of the club’s 40th season.

The decision to pull out of the 2019 GCDRU first grade competition may prove the unlikely key to ensuring the Palm Beach Currumbin Alleygator’s rugby survival.

The club’s late withdrawal sent shockwaves throughout the local competition but, according to director of rugby Michael Bell, that difficult decision has laid a platform to rebuild the club’s culture.

Palm Beach Currumbin rugby manager Michael Bell (R), formerly of the Surfers Paradise club. Photo by Richard Gosling

When the team’s regular first graders walked out the door only those willing to bleed for the club remained.

Bell says those true Alleygators will form the club’s new foundations as PBC celebrates their 40th season in 2020.

“There are no egos among the playing group now,” he said.

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“The egos all left for other clubs and what we were left with was people who were prepared to work for each other, put their hands up and stick by the club.

“Our point of difference is we have good people who’ve stood by the club in difficult times, living the culture and helping the club grow.

“We’re now very confident we’ll see the rewards from that.

“There will be new players in due course but it will all be built around maintaining the good culture that’s there now.”

Queensland Reds lock Izack Rodda with PBC Alleygators juniors at the Queensland Reds fan day. Picture: Brendan Hertel/QRU

Bell says the Alleygators will enter teams in all three grades and are hopeful of joining the James O’Connor Cup under-19s competition as well – expanding the club by 400 per cent.

“That in itself is a success, to get the number of players back playing for the club and wearing our colours,” he said.

“We’re coming from difficult times in recent years so our focus is continuing to rebuild the club.

“It was a really tough decision to withdraw from first grade but it was the right decision.”

Officials are not expecting the world from their first grade side in 2020 but promise that if teams are going to beat them, the Alleygators will make them earn it.