ROSEWOOD Roosters club president and C-Grade coach Shane Brandley was already looking to next season after two outstanding efforts in less than 24 hours.
The Roosters under-13 boys side won the Rugby League Ipswich Development competition grand final 38-20 [story back page], just hours after the club’s senior men ended their season on a high.
Proud clubman Brandley is excited about what the young footballers can achieve in future years.
He was also delighted how the Roosters men outclassed West End 32-0 last Saturday night in their final game of the Volunteers Cup season.
The Rosewood C-graders finished seventh with six wins, one draw and nine losses.
Brandley was impressed with his senior team’s late-season defence and commitment.
“In the second half of the season, the boys have really stuck together as one,” he said.
“A majority of the boys that started the season struggled to get wins on the board but they got confidence from working together.
“The camaraderie the boys built that second half of the season has just been unbelievable.”
The club president took over as coach mid-season, guiding the Roosters to some improved performances.
He hopes to have a new coach appointed soon for next season.
Among the Roosters stars in recent weeks was fullback Damien Burrows, who has revitalized his rugby league career at the Rosewood club.
The former Ipswich State High and Norths footballer scored two tries against West End to finish the regular season as equal top try scorer with Laidley footballer Jayden Roberts. Both players crossed for 10 four-pointers.
Burrows was also the C-Grade competition’s top point scorer with 70.
“He’s a fantastic footballer,” Brandley said.
“He’s got big things ahead of him.”
Other Roosters try scorers in the final match were centre Zac Collins, prop Sean Brock-Dillon and interchange duo Tevita Taufa and Jerara Semple.
“Tevita coming off the bench has been fantastic,” Brandley said.
“He’s very young also but he is willing to get out there.”
