Premiership-winning coach returns to Tweed Coast in NRRRL

A RESURGENT Tweed Coast is on the cusp of a late-season surge with the return of a premiership-winning coach boosting its finals chances in Northern Rivers Regional Rugby League.

The next month will be crucial for the Raiders after a season-defining 36-22 win over Murwillumbah in the ninth round of the competition.

Tweed Coast five-eighth and vice-president Owen Fredericks said the team has been boosted by the return of former NRL premiership winner Brent Kite in the coaching ranks.

Kite coached the team to its first premiership in 2018, with a second grand final win in 2020 when the competition was split between Tweed and the Northern Rivers.

“We changed things up about a month ago and we’ve been lucky enough to have Brent Kite come down to help out,” Fredericks said.

“He’s really simplified things, and we just seem to be clicking and playing a lot more consistently.

“I can’t speak highly enough of him, and I’m really surprised that he hasn’t landed a coaching gig in the NRL.”

The Raiders have plenty of experience with front-rower Daniel Ross, lock Drew Lanston and hooker Dan Willoughby leading the way.

They also have notable try-scorers in centre Dom Murray and winger Abele Atunaisa.

Both have experience in big games and could provide the strike the Raiders need to sneak into the finals.

“We’ve got a good month of footy now where we can put ourselves in finals contention,” Fredericks said.

“The team was confident before the Murwillumbah game because of how well we trained that week.

“We get coaching from Matt Ballin one night a week; he’s an assistant coach with Queensland and the Brisbane Broncos.

“There isn’t much more our club coaches or committee can do in terms of giving the players every opportunity to learn.”

The Raiders’ next home game will be against defending premiers Ballina on Sunday, July 13.

A win there would put them in good stead with a catch-up game against the Kyogle Turkeys to be played.

“Anyone in the top six is going to be hard to beat once it hits finals,” Fredericks said.