A FAMILIAR face, albeit a few years older, will wear the Moruya Sharks colours this season and comes back with a boat-load of experience to add to the 2013 Group 16 premier’s line-up.
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The 28-year-old Luke Jay, a NSW Police football representative player, has returned to the South Coast and can’t wait to be back on the paddock where “it all began”.
“It’s been a dream I have had since being a little boy, to be able to come back to my home town and raise my family in God’s country,” he said.
“Having my family watch me strap on the boots at the Sharkies will be a proud moment.”
Jay was also keen to link up with an old representative and Sharks team mate, Tim Weyman, who will captain/coach the side this season.
“It’s going to be great to put the boots on and play alongside ‘Pony’ again,” he said.
“Having played together when we were kids to playing at the Raiders together.
“His skill and size up the middle will make my job easier.”
Since 2009 Jay has played at hooker for the Asquith Magpies in the Manly-Warringah competition and then the Ron Massey Cup.
He collected the team’s best and fairest award in 2013 and the coach’s award in 2011 and 2012.
For three consecutive seasons, 2009-2011, Jay played in a curtain-raiser before State of Origin for the NSW Police team.
He believed work ethic was his biggest strength he could add to the playing group after facing players in Sydney and the Central Coast who were pressing for NSW Cup selection.
“It (Ron Massey Cup) was a good competition and lot of good young players were pushing for selection in higher grades,” he said.
Asquith Magpies coach Simon Clarke said Jay was a big part of the club’s leadership group and noticed his work ethic rubbed off on some of the younger players.
“Luke is a player who doesn’t say a whole lot, because his actions do all the talking,” Clarke said.
“Luke, Cath and their two beautiful daughters will be sorely missed around the club.”
Tim and Jay played from under 5s until high school seniors.
The pair represented the Combined Catholic College under 15s team, and played together at the Raiders in the under 16s, 18s and 20s and also were in the under 18s SG Ball premiership team.
Tim was rapt to have Jay back at Moruya.
“I’m excited to have Luke back as he will bring a lot of experience to the team,” he said.
“He is the type of player who will always dig deep in tough games and by doing so he inspires the boys around him to do the same.”
Club stalwart Ack Weyman was also pleased to hear of Jay’s return.
“It will be great to see Tim and Luke play together again after watching them both discover their love for the game playing in Moruya juniors, and then developing their talent at the Raiders by playing Harold Matthews and SG ball together,” Ack said.
“Since playing for the Raiders they have chosen different career paths with Tim finishing his apprenticeship in Canberra and Luke joining the police force.
“It’s exciting for both families to now have them both back in their hometown playing alongside each other for the Sharkies again.”
The Moruya Sharks have a bye in the first round of Group 16 this season.
The club trains each Tuesday and Friday at Gundary Oval from 6pm until the Ack Weyman Oval resurfacing is complete.