At this time of the year, any teacher will tell you they’d do anything to avoid doing report cards.
Souths Logan Magpies new recruit and physical education teacher Tyler Coburn has found the best reason not to be completing the term at Forest Lake State High; he’s at Red Hill sweating it out completing a pre-season with the Brisbane Broncos.
Coburn played 33 games for Ipswich Jets since he made his Hostplus Cup debut in 2020, but has moved onto Souths Logan and has now earned a chance at his NRL dream.
The Logan Brothers junior will complete 15 weeks for the Broncos either side of Christmas with a trial game to impress; Coburn hasn’t been this excited about a Christmas break since he scored a new bike and cricket bat.
“It’s been unreal... just to be around the Broncos set up and wake up and go to training,” Coburn said.
“I’ve got a real chance. I just want to work hard and learn as much as I can.
“I have done the testing and have weight and strength goals so it’s been great to have it mapped out for me.
“I am getting to do something I love. Just being around this environment is massive, I am learning new things. And missing out on doing report cards too.”
Souths Logan coach and 127-game Broncos premiership winner Karmichael Hunt was instrumental in getting Coburn to Davies Park for 2023 and has always liked what he saw from the young forward.
“We identified a hole in our roster and we’d been monitoring Coburn,” Hunt said.
“He has a link to Souths, through his juniors with Logan Brothers.
“I sat down with Tyler and Steve Bretherton and I was immediately impressed with Tyler. We love having him in the nest at the Magpies and think he will be great for us.
“On top of that he has the chance at the Broncos this off-season and he has to approach that as if an NRL chance is there for him.
“You don’t know when it might come but it’s there. His strength is his contact and he’s a smart player. Those types of players are always in demand.”
Broncos coach Kevin Walters is a familiar face, having coached Coburn’s dad Danny Coburn at Ipswich in 2007 and 2008 for 44 games and 31 wins with Coburn as captain when the Jets made the 2008 grand final, ironically and heartbreakingly, losing to Souths Logan.
“It’s a great opportunity for Tyler," Walters said.
“I had a great relationship with his dad as captain and coach. I have that connection with his dad, and I loved coaching Danny.
“You can see a lot of similar traits in Tyler. Even down to how they talk, great family and great people.
“Tyler has an opportunity... that’s what we have offered him.
“I am feeling pretty old... Max Plath, Tyler Coburn, Tristan Sailor and Billy Walters are all here. I am dealing with sons of players I coached, played with and my own son."
Coburn, no doubt, would love to see written on his report card at the end of 15 weeks, "Coburn took his opportunity at the Brisbane Broncos this summer".
