CASTING aside a forgettable Group Nine season, Tumbarumba has taken a step toward football salvation by signing star centre Robbie Byatt as captain-coach for next year.
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In the wake of Aaron Sweeney’s drama-fuelled departure, Byatt will link with his home town club with all the fanfare of a returning hero.
Byatt is currently playing with Shawcross Sharks in England and has been revelling in the Leeds domestic competition.
Only recently, Shaw Cross Sharks captain Andrew Fawkes described Byatt as “the best centre in the league”.
“He’s absolutely massive for us and for me he’s by far and away the best centre in the league,” Fawkes told Ryan Conway on the Shaw Cross Sharks website.
“With the ball in his hands he’s a constant danger.”
Byatt’s booming form in England will be no surprise to the Greens – the powerful back left Tumbarumba three years ago for Queanbeyan Kangaroos with a fabulous reputation.
Coming after Sweeney was suspended by for a year by Group Nine before splitting with Tumbarumba, Byatt’s signing is being billed as a turning point for the hills club.
Significantly, Robbie Byatt’s younger brother Matthew has also signed for next year.
A highly potent front rower, Matthew Byatt has been playing alongside Robbie at Shaw Cross Sharks – and also earning glowing praise.
Tumbarumba secretary Chris Rynehart has made it clear the return of Byatt brothers is just the start of a renaissance for the Greens.
“Once the season is over we will have other recruitment news but obviously can't say anything yet,” Rynehart reported.
Already there is grapevine gossip that three English players, including a gun halfback and centre, will head to Tumbarumba with the Byatt boys,
For Tumbarumba, the recruitment of home-grown talent could be a watershed for the struggling club.
This year, the Greens went winless over 16 games, with Sweeney’s mid-season suspension a sorry sidelight.
Tumbarumba’s stocks have been on the slide for several years, but Byatt certainly looks the player and coach to end the decline.
The Byatt brothers have been described as “cult heroes” in England and have a similar charisma in their home town.
With Tumbarumba finalising their coach, only Tumut, Gundagai and Junee are left to settle their arrangements.
The Blues are currently accepting applications for their new development officer-coach role, while Matt Hands (Junee) and Cameron Woo (Gundagai) are expected to stay in their positions.
