Playmaker Hayden Sargeant will face off against his former club in his first match back for the Bond Bull Sharks as the season gets underway next week.
Captain Dan Boardman lured the star recruit back down the M1 after three seasons with the Sunnybank Dragons.
“Boardo has been in my ear since the day I left so he has been a big influence, along with being closer to home and Bond’s facilities being up there with the best in Queensland,” Sargeant said.
The former Australian Under 20 utility back said the Bull Sharks had a strong core group of players displaying commitment and consistent effort each and every week during pre-season preparations.
He said the impact of new strength and conditioning coach Sean Edward also could not be understated.
“Pre-season has been very tough to be brutally honest. The boys have really responded to the challenge and are feeling really fit and confident leading into round one,” Sargeant said.
The 24-year-old’s performance over recent seasons has shown him to be a stand-out, versatile back in Queensland Premier Rugby, but he has made no secret of his desire for the top flyhalf position in 2022.
“It’s where I feel most comfortable,” he said. “I grew up playing (at number) ten and its where I feel most at home.”
The Bond University Bachelor of Construction Management and Quantity Surveying graduate doesn’t hesitate when asked what he will consider success in 2022.
“The benchmark is top four, that’s the minimum we want to achieve and I really feel like it’s achievable here,” he said.
Bond University’s season kicks off on April 29 against the Sunnybank Dragons at Oldmac Oval. Bond’s first home game of the season is on May 7.