Peterson returns to lead Ballina Seagulls in 2009 league season
Star halfback Brent Peterson is back where he started his junior football and will captain Ballina Seagulls in the 2009 Northern Rivers Regional Rugby League season.
Peterson has been a standout performer for the strong Marist Brothers club in recent seasons.
His return will be a major boost for the Seagulls, who struggled last season after being grand finalists in 2007.
Also new to the club this year is promising centre Jono Freeman, who played with Tweed Seagulls in the strong Queensland Cup competition last year.
Freeman, who is studying at Southern Cross University in Lismore, has been earmarked by Northern Rivers selectors for rep honours this year.
Returning after time off from the game are former Ballina players Will Keane, Matt Thompson, Dean French and James Rix, and they will add depth to the club.
The Seagulls this year will be coached by Brian Battese, who played in the Canterbury Bulldogs’ premiership-winning teams of 1984 and 1985.
Paul Tagget will be the assistant first-grade coach.
Tagget was in charge when Ballina’s reserve grade won the 2007 NRRRL premiership.
In reserve grade, Tyler Iverson is coach, while Greg Barnes will have his third year as Under-18s coach.
The Seagulls will take on the newly-promoted Evans Head Bombers at Kingsford Smith Park, Ballina, on Sunday, April 19, in the season-opening match.
PICTURE: The Seagulls squad at training this week.
