Raiders invest in youth to rebuild club

TACTICAL recruitment and a focus on developing juniors have Tweed Coast Raiders officials optimistic about the coming Northern Rivers Regional Rugby League season.

First grade will be coached by Drew Lanston and Geoff Wallis, with destructive Byron Bay winger Abele Atunaisa the club’s biggest off-season signing.

Atunaisa can score tries from anywhere on the field and should help the Raiders improve their chances of returning to the semi-finals.

Tweed Coast vice-president Owen Fredericks said the club has built a new gym, while former NRL player Matt Ballin has been assisting with pre-season training.

Tweed Coast has several juniors on the cusp of first grade, while the likes of hooker Dan Willoughby will suit up for another season to lead the group.

“We’re trying to find the right balance between recruitment and bringing our juniors into first grade,” Fredericks said.

“Geoff had a big season with under-18s last year and he’ll look to keep building on that.

“We don’t want to just bring anyone in, they need to be the right fit for the club.

“Our coaches are smart operators and think outside the box; they want to show our young players that we’re investing in them.

“That is one of the reasons we built the gym, and they get access to Matt Ballin who has been coming down to run a session every second week.”

The Raiders had success when they re-entered the competition in 2017.

They won a premiership under former NRL front-rower Brent Kite the next season and claimed the Tweed grand final when the competition was split in 2020.

“That team had a lot of depth and experience,” Fredericks said.

“They were all local guys who ripped in for the club and some of them are still on board trying to help the next crop of players.

“We’re a fairly tight unit, I’m part of a small committee and most of us play and sponsor the club, too.

“Drew Lanston and Brydie McNeven spend hours each week with coaching and all sorts of roles to keep us moving in the right direction.

“It’s those sort of people that you want to have success for and if the players are committed we should have a really good season.”

Preseason training is held at Les Burger Field, Cabarita on Tuesday and Thursday nights from 6pm with new players welcome.