They may be the oldest rugby league club in country Australia, but Tweed Heads Seagulls are still proving to be one of the most successful.
Nine rounds into the Queensland Cup, the Seagulls are still undefeated, with Ipswich becoming the latest victim at the weekend.
“This is pretty much the longest winning streak we’ve had since entering the Queensland Cup in 2003,” said club CEO and former player Terry ‘Notso’ Kean. “When we first went in to the State league, we set ourselves a program – we wanted to win it in five years. We made the final in the second year and won it in the fifth.”
“But the Queensland Cup success this season is just the tip of the iceberg for the club,” according to Kean, who said the 103-year-old club is going “back to the future” this year.
After three years playing at Cudgen, the club returned home to Piggabeen and now, with the help of the Tweed Shire Council and NSW Member for Tweed, Geoff Provest, are hoping to build a community clubhouse at the ground.
They have also returned to play in the local Gold Coast Football competition, fielding two sides and reigniting old rivalries with other local Tweed and Lower Gold Coast sides, as well as re-establishing ties with local juniors.
“Since we have been back at Piggabeen, a lot of the people who used to support us are coming back,” he said. “And we have a new board who are all ex-players. They have all played and all have a passion for the game.” He said most of the board members also have firm bases in local business and good business knowledge, bringing a balance of passion and know-how.
The club also has no trouble with player loyalty, with six now playing 100 Queensland Cup games for the Gulls since they joined the competition early last decade. The magnificent six include James Wood, Tim McCan, Brad Davis, Selasi Berdie, Matt King and Nathaniel Barnes (who played his 100th game at the weekend).
“All those guys have played more than 100 games for us and all of them are still playing for us,” Kean said proudly. He said they probably could have chased more money at other clubs but had chosen to stay with Seagulls.
