Tumut have added another big body to the line up for 2019 after unveiling their largest recruit yet.
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Front rower Jed Pearce will back with the Blues for the first time since 2012 after signing on to play under his brother and Blues co-coach Adam Pearce.
The pair last played together at Queabeyan Kangaroos in 2016 and the Blues leader is excited to have his younger brother back at the club.
“It’s unreal,” Adam Pearce said.
“We’re looking really good now with a few big front rowers to play off the back off now.”
It’s part of another busy off-season for the Blues who are looking to hit back after going from preliminary finalists to missing out on finals last season.
Tumut has brought in plenty of forward power with reigning Canberra Raiders Cup league medallist Tom Warner and brother Ben linking from Yass.
Now with Jed Pearce added to the Blues front row, which already includes reigning Weissel Medal winner Zac Masters, his size will be a massive boost to the club’s hopes of becoming a premiership force this season.
“It’s a bit more size to the pack and he was in the Raiders 20s and has good wrestle,” Pearce said.
“With Tommy Warner and Benny Warner there to to rotate between and a few young blokes from Tumut who will do a job for us as well we are looking good.”
Jed Pearce played in America last season alongside another returning face in Lachlan Bristow and won a national title with the Jacksonville Axemen.
The 24-year-old is looking forward to returning home with so many Blues juniors in the team.
“I ended up getting talked into it by the family but it’s good to be back,” Jed Pearce said.
“They’ve been trying for quite a while now and it’s a big thing to go back.
“The best thing about it is the locals all getting around and pretty keen to play for the town.
“It’s good to have the locals rather than buying people from somewhere.”
Bristow has been impressing at pre-season training as he returns to hooker.
Despite plenty of new faces in the forwards, there has been no new additions to the Tumut’s back line.
However the coach doesn’t believe it is a concern.
“We’ve got plenty enough backs,” Adam Pearce said.
One option includes the return of Fetongi Tuinauvai but after he returned to New Zealand halfway through the season a return looks unlikely at this stage.
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