Nelson Bay utility back Jack Arthur will make his debut with the NSW Country Cockatoos this weekend.
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Arthur has proved himself up to the challenge in recent years with duty in the Country Colts side solid performances with the Nelson Bay Gropers.
Two years abroad in England didn’t hurt either.
“I was back playing with Nelson Bay earlier this year against Univsersity and one of the boys asked me if I wanted to come to Armidale because they were short players,” Arthur said.
“It was playing for the New England side and we got smashed but Matt must have liked what he saw.”
Matt Thomas is coach for the Cockatoos. Based at Medowie he’s previously coached the Newcastle Wildfires.
“He’s an extremely strong defender who also runs the ball and has great vision from the back,” Thomas said.
“His time in the UK has seen him develop some size too.”
Arthur made the most of his two year contract with Bridlington.
“I went over there playing fly half and after a while I asked the coach if I could move to full back and luckily he agreed,” he said.
“I think I’ve always had that vision but my defence is where my game really improved.
“It’s a very physical game over there. I did put on some weight because it’s pretty cold in winter there so I wasn’t getting up for a morning run.”
Bridlington lost the final in extra time in his first year with the club. A year later they finished the competition in third.
“I got last year and played the end of the season here,” he said.
“I had a few niggling injuries but I’ve got myself right in the off season.”
The 21-year-old will start from the bench against Sydney Suburban but is expected to inject some energy into the backs.
His hopes are modest for 2017 balancing club and representative football with Tafe. He’s also hopeful of enrolling in university to further his studies.
“I just want to have a good season with Nelson Bay,” the architecture student said.
“Maybe I’ll go overseas again at the end of the year, possibly the UK again or the US. The scene is meant to be good in the US.”
The Cockatoos take on NSW Suburban at Camden on Sunday (June 4).
From there they will face Brumbies Provincial at Tuggeranong on June 17.
Following this the Cockatoos play Queensland Country Heelers at Newcastle (Southern Beaches) on Saturday July 1.
