Luke Berkrey will be back in Group Nine next year.
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The former Cootamundra co-coach has signed on with Gundagai for next season following a year with Queanbeyan Blues.
He is excited to be joining one of the most successful clubs in the region.
“Apart from their on-field success, I think they are an all-round good club,” Berkrey said.
“Everyone in town follows Gundagai and being such a good club off the field is the reason why they are starting to get results on the field.”
Berkrey left the Bulldogs after leading the team in 2015, but said a return to his hometown club wasn’t really considered.
“I spoke to the club briefly but always my plan was to go and have a year at Gundagai,” Berkrey said.
After travelling to play in Canberra, the 24-year-old plans to move to Gundagai with fiance Emma, the sister of Weissel Medal winner Brett Eccleston.
“We are about to build a house over there so that is the main reason,” Berkrey said.
Berkrey switched between lock and front row with the Blues before playing his last five games at five-eighth.
However, he re-injured his sternum and missed the club’s semi-final loss.
He doesn’t expect it will be a problem going forward but isn’t sure what role he will take with the grand finalists.
Tigers coach James Smart is pleased to have the new addition.
“We got some really good reports from him playing at Queanbeyan,” Smart said.
“A year under Simon Woolford would have been good for him.”
The Cootamundra Bulldogs are yet to fill their coaching seat after not being able to reach an agreement with this year’s captain-coach Simon Vanzanten after one year in the top job.
The journeyman disagreed with the club’s decision to hold off the recruitment process until a new committee was elected at last night’s annual general meeting.
Berkrey looked certain to switch to Gundagai in 2013 after penning a contract with the Tigers at the end of the 2012 season. However, personal circumstances changed for the explosive front-rower and he asked for a release from the contract to remain with the Bulldogs.
Berkrey was recognised for his consistency throughout the 2013 season as a lock by being awarded the Les Boyd Medal by the Bulldogs. He was also the runner-up for the prize in 2012 and was selected in the Group Nine representative squad in the same year.
Former NRL Canberra Raiders captain Terry Campese will make his return to the Queanbeyan Blues as captain-coach of the Canberra Raiders Cup powerhouse.