From the UK straight to Townsville
Thursday, February 13, 2025
With a clear goal of pushing for NRL spots down the line. Joining the Townsville Blackhawks could be a solid stepping stone for the 4 UK men, and the idea of following in the footsteps of someone like Sam Burgess—who made such a big impact after his move from England—is an inspiring one.
The challenges, like dealing with the flooding in North Queensland and not having consistent training facilities, definitely add some extra hurdles. But it’s interesting how Blackhawks coach Terry Campese emphasizes the need to prove themselves at the Queensland Cup level. While the players may have Super League experience, this is a different environment, and the competition is fierce.
Robbie Storey and Tom Nisbet seem to have some solid pedigree, with Storey having experience with the London Broncos and a decent stint with the Brisbane Broncos’ UK-based squad. Nisbet, with his time at St Helens and Leigh, will likely bring some good skill as well. The younger players, Irwin and Mather, will need time to adapt, but they could be ones to watch in the coming seasons.
“They’ve all come over to have a crack at the NRL like everyone else. They have an opportunity in front of them but they need to be successful at this level.” Terry Campese told the Townsville Bulletin.
Blackhawks football operations manager Adrian Thomson said to Townsville Bulletin “It wasn’t really intentional” when talking about signing of Englishman being a theme each year in the club.
“All of them will have to prove themselves and showcase what they have learnt in pre season and what they are best at because even though they’ve come out of Super League clubs they are still yet to prove themselves at Queensland Cup level.”
