Veteran Bear Joe Carbone takes over as head coach at Litchfield with the side eager to reclaim the NRL NT premiership
VETERAN Bear Joe Carbone has taken on the top coaching job at Litchfield, with the club gearing up in an attempt to reclaim the NRL NT premiership trophy in 2021.
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VETERAN Bear Joe Carbone has taken on the top coaching job at Litchfield, with the club gearing up in an attempt to reclaim the NRL NT premiership trophy in 2021.
The Bears legend has had an extensive playing career with the club dating back 30 years to his time playing junior league for the Fred’s Pass-based side.
After climbing into the senior side he played in four of the five premiership-winning Litchfield sides from 1994-1998, taking on the captaincy in the 1998 winning outfit.
Carbone would again feature in the 2008 premiership-winning side, the club’s first grand final victory since 1998.
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After a period away from the game he has now found his way back to the senior side in a coaching capacity knowing he will have big shoes to fill.
Previous coach Jake Barnes stepped down following a successful three-year stint, leading the Bears to two premierships from three grand final appearances.
But Carbone is eager to take on the challenge and see his side rise to the top again, with his troops eager to avenge their 2020 grand final loss to Darwin Brothers.
“It’s exciting to get the chance to be out there looking over this experienced group of guys,” Carbone told the NT News.
“There are certainly a lot of high expectations considering recent success and there are big shoes to fill in this role so I hope we can do our best and bring home the money.
“Previous performances speak for themselves, we’re a side that is strong up front and have plenty of discipline so we know we’re a solid team.
“I’m hoping we can add a few more dimensions to our style playing a more expansive game throwing the ball around a bit more, but ultimately we will play to our strengths.”
The Bears boast a strong community club, with plenty of strong juniors ready and waiting to take the step up to senior level.
But they will need to earn their stripes to break into the experienced A-grade squad that has enjoyed plenty of success in recent years.
Long-time captain Luke Mahood is once again expected to be a leading influence in the senior squad and around the club.
Dual Frank Johnston medallist Matt Goodfellow is another Bears veteran who the new coach will look to as a leader across the park.
“The boys are extremely motivated to redeem themselves after losing the grand final last year to Brothers,” Carbone said.
“We weren’t expecting that result then so there is that hunger among the group to get back out there with a lot of guys keen to continue.
“The core of the group is expected to stay as it is. We haven’t gone out of our way to recruit seeing as our junior base is really strong and we have our reserve grade players putting their hands up.
“I’m expecting it to be a cracker of a season. The change of union season has seen an influx of players for both codes and three weeks into pre-season we’re seeing good numbers at training.”
Litchfield vice-president Paul Jensen was pleased to see Carbone take over the role, with the club excited to continue its fine run of accolades into 2021.
“The club is very excited to have Joe Carbone as the head coach for the 2021 season,” Jensen said.
“There is a lot of excitement around his appointment and what Joe will bring to the club.
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“The mighty Bears are of course eager to regain the premiership trophy and still congratulate the Brothers club for last year’s win.
“Being Club of the Year five out of the past six years is a testament to all of our members, club sponsors and volunteers.”
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