A familiar face is set to return to the helm of Moree Weebolla Bulls first grade side, as the club gears up for one of its biggest years yet.
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Damien Kelly has been announced as the Bulls’ 2019 first grade coach, along with last year’s co-coaches Mick Grant and Peter Copeman.
The Bulls legend, who last year helped out with second grade, has stepped up to the first grade coaching position – a role he’s all too familiar with.
Kelly led the Bulls to victory in 2013, following his return to Moree in 2011 after a 10-year stint in Scotland, during which he captained the Ayr Rugby Club for three years.
Moree Bulls Rugby Union Club president Paul King said Kelly will be “very good”.
“He’s a very experienced coach and player,” he said.
“He brings a tonne of experience and game knowledge. He’s coached premiership teams before and has a high skill level as a player.”
Kelly has been coaching with the Bulls in some capacity or another since he returned to the club in 2011.
This year he will be looking to focus on first grade’s defensive skills.
“If you look back, the team with the best defence usually finished first,” Kelly said.
“Those two go hand-in-hand.
“You still want to move the ball around, but it’s about finding that balance.”
Kelly said his goal this year is “obviously to win”.
“We want to go as deep as we can into finals,” he said.
“Obviously we want to finish on top of the ladder; there’s no point doing it without that ambition.”
With the majority of last year’s players returning this season, as well as the return of the likes of Damien Meppem, who has decided to dust off the boots this year, and Dan Sweeney who is back from injury, King expects the Bulls will once again be among the frontrunners in the Central North competition.
“I think we’ll definitely be in the hunt, no doubt about that,” he said.
“We’ll have the same core team for first grade as we had last year. We’ll be just as competitive.”
Last year, first grade were knocked out of the competition in the preliminary final by Walcha, having finished in second place on the 2018 ladder.
Meanwhile, second grade will this year be looking to claim back the premiership trophy, after a disappointing grand final loss to Narrabri Blue Boars last year.
Sylvester Joseph will once again coach second grade, along with captain Sam Copeman who helped out most of last year.
“We should be right up there in the mix once more,” King said.
“We’re definitely going to be competitive in both grades.
“It was a pretty even competition last year and I think it’ll be the same this year. That’s a good thing; if it’s an even competition it’s better for everybody.”
The Bulls began pre-season training last Thursday, with about 35 players turning up, which King said was good considering the heat.
This year is set to be a big one for the Bulls, who are this year celebrating their 60th anniversary.
The Bulls annual golf day will be on Friday, February 22, followed by the 60 years reunion celebration on Saturday, February 23.
The celebration will feature the naming of the best six sides from each of the six decades of the club’s history, as well as the announcement of the best team from the whole of the 60 years.
“I’m sure there’ll be some controversy to come out of that, some people are not going to agree with our decision,” King said.
“It was hard to compare eras; the game has changed so much. But it’s not something we [the panel] did lightly. It took an awful lot of work to select the best team of the last 60 years.”
The Bulls have also been chosen to host the Classic Wallabies on March 23.
