Devils return for 2019 pre-season
The Devils have completed their first week of pre-season training, stocked with plenty of familiar faces and some new players to Bishop Park.
After the re-signing of forwards Jamayne Taunoa-Brown and Brandon Lee, the Devils squads across four grades began the journey towards the 2019 season.
More than 120 players turned out for training as the Devils mixed in strength work with ball work.
One of the familiar faces was in a new role – veteran Intrust Super Cup forward Guy Williams has joined the Under 18 coaching staff for the Mal Meninga Cup.
Williams is still deciding whether to continue a playing career that has him entrenched in the top 10 for all-time Cup appearances. He earned the most recent of those in 2018 as part of an overhauled Devils squad under new coach Rohan Smith.
Smith will again lead the Devils through their 2019 campaign in the defence of their club championship and seeking to add to the team honours that delivered the Colts premiership to Bishop Park.
Colts coach Kevin Neighbour has returned while Cup assistant coach Craig Kennedy will guide the Valleys BRL team as the Devils become more involved with the second-tier competition.
Neighbour said the one-club approach was central to the Devils’ success in 2018 and he said the enthusiasm for the new season was evident as pre-season training began.
Kennedy’s appointment will ensure a strong flow for the Devils in the BRL, linking that important tier with the Cup, Colts and Under 18 competitions.
Norths will also maintain their partnership with West Brisbane Panthers in the BRL competition.
