Geteno George the new Wide Bay Bulls U19 women’s coach
The new coach of the Wide Bay Bulls U19 women has been around footy in the region for more than four decades and says a new era of building the game has dawned. Here is the squad heading to Kingaroy on Saturday, and the players to watch this season:
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Geteno George will bring plenty of local knowledge and experience as he steps into the role of coach of the Wide Bay Bulls.
George spent about 40 years as a player around the Wide Bay and coached at senior level before taking over his new role from Jordan Morris.
Morris is stepping down from the women’s coaching position with the Bulls but will be assisting George in his first season with the under-19’s team.
"I was Jordan’s assistant last season, so it seems as though the roles are reversed," George said ahead of this season’s opener against the Western Clydesdales on Saturday, February 25 at TJ O’Neill Oval, Kingaroy.
"But I am looking forward to it big time.
Mal Meninga squad breakdown: Wide Bay Bulls players to watch
"It’s my first experience coaching a women’s team but I have had plenty of experience coaching senior reserve grade around the place.
"I probably started playing when I was seven and stopped when I was 47, throughout the South Burnett and Northern Districts in Bundaberg."
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George said his experience of playing and coaching in the Wide Bay gave him a great insight to what it meant to represent the region as a player and he had noticed a change since the Bulls returned to rep football three years ago after a 12-year absence.
"It’s coming back to where it actually means something again," George said.
"When I was a kid growing up to make the Wide Bay team, it meant something to us.
"It was a struggle to get there and when you did, it actually was really important. So it’s getting back to that point now.
"There are great signs for the future of footy in the Wide Bay, especially for the young ladies. If we can build a good side in this comp and get them on par with the lads, then that’s great for the future of women’s footy here."
George said he had set no goals for the season other than for his side to be competitive, starting with the Clydesdales this Saturday.
"I’ve got no big expectations of my players," he said.
"If we can be competitive across the paddock with with everything we do, then we’ve got a 50 per cent chance of of coming up trumps.
"So let’s hope the girls can play well on the day and then we will see where we go."
George said the past three years since re-entering the competition after a 12-year break had been good for the Bulls on and off the field.
"It gives them (the players) a bit of direction," he said.
"It gives them a bit of a feel about what the next steps are.
"There are good thoughts about where Wide Bay is heading but it’s been missing for a long time.
"But if we keep growing kids this level maybe we can make our own local comps a little better as well."
George said he was expecting a different outcome against the Clydesdales this weekend to a recent trial game in which the Bulls were convincingly beaten.
"We went down to Toowoomba with 16 people and they had about 35," he said.
"We basically just gave people a go in different positions.
"I think this weekend there will certainly be a different team.
"They’ve got a couple of outstanding players. But if we can go out on a limb, who knows?
"We have our last training session before the game on Wednesday night and we’ll go through what everyone’s jobs are in the plan for the weekend and just recap what we’ve talked about for the last three months.
"Only difference is this time we’re seriously going into battle.
"I’m a competitive person, so I want I want them to be ready for what lies ahead."
George said now was the time for the players to learn about themselves both on and off the field.
"Myself and the manager came in at the start of the year and went to camps and did all the pre-season stuff," he said.
"We spoke to the players and told them that not everything’s about the footy.
"It’s about being better community members as well. And that’s what we hope to build."
Players to watch
Coach George put his thinking cap on to pick out some Wide Bay Bulls Harvey Norman Under-19 players to watch for the coming season.
Taryn Knight
Taryn Knight is the captain and five-eighth and she’s from Maryborough. She’s a great all-round footy player all across the park. The coach says “she’s a natural centre but I think she can do a great job at halfback and I want to see her in that position."
Aquila Malone
Aquila Malone is A fullback who can do great things on the field.
Dykota Cauchi
Dykota Cauchi is one of our props and one of the youngest players in the squad. When she is at the top of her game, she’ll change the game for us.
Samantha Cobbo
Samantha Cobbo is the younger sister of Brisbane Broncos star Selwyn. The coach said he does not put pressure on second-rower Sam being the younger sibling of an NRL player.
"She’s her own person too," he said.
"She does a marvellous job and she is a girl that changes the game."
Sadie Langton
Sadie Langton can control the game at half back.
Lluana George
Lluana George is the daughter of the coach whose position is lock but will "play anywhere dad tells her," laughs the coach. She is another of the leaders in the team.
Harvey Norman Wide Bay Bulls Women’s Under-19 squad to face Western Clydesdales: Aquila Malone, Lilly Cornell, Julie Munroe, Reagan Rose, Maddison Clarke, Taryn Knight, Sadie Langton, Violet Whitby, Hannahlin Whitby, Dykota Cauchi, Kodie Doherty, Samantha Cobbo, Lluana George, Abbey Renough-Dowdie, Ebony Rose, Maddy Lauman, Narmi Page, Amber Webb, Ayarna Fisher
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Originally published as Geteno George the new Wide Bay Bulls U19 women’s coach
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