Wynnum Manly Seagulls: Cup gains and losses for 2023
- Author
- Timestamp
Tony Pellow knows the benefits of being surrounded by strong mentors.
The former Brisbane Tigers fullback – who played in his first Hostplus Cup season last year – has joined the Wynnum Manly Seagulls for season 2023, ready not only for a change, but to work with some of the sharpest minds in the game.
Alongside him this season is pathways manager and former Tigers Cup coach Jon Buchanan, Wynnum Manly assistant coach and former Tigers captain Darren Nicholls, and Wynnum Manly head coach and Pellow’s former St George Illawarra Dragons under 20s coach, Mat Head.
Pellow said Buchanan’s influence was what helped him first get his foot in the door at the Seagulls, but the more he became aware of who else was going to be at the club in 2023, the more eager he was to be there himself.
“JB got the recruitment gig over here, so he was just on to me,” Pellow said.
“He gave me my first opportunity to play Cup up here (in Queensland) and he showed me the right from wrong in this competition. It was massive.
“Dezzie’s good too. I had him last year as captain and he also helped coach us here and there. I learned heaps off him - just his experience and trying to pick his brain. He’s played a lot of Cup games.
“Transitioning straight out of Cup, he still knows what it takes to win and how to take the losses and whatnot. Going straight from playing to coaching can really benefit everyone.
“I also had Heady in under 20s at the Dragons. I had a relationship with him for a while, so it’s made it all a bit easier.
“Ever since I’ve known him, he’s a very family-orientated person. He’s always had those values and I knew his style of play and I thought I could benefit off that.
“He’s very hard working. I’ve seen him be very successful in the lower grades at the Dragons so I thought being under his guidance would benefit me.”
Coming to the Seagulls not only gives Pellow a change of scenery, but competition for his position.
The 26-year-old Brewarrina and Dubbo product is not the only new fullback at the club, with Norths No.1 and utility Matthew Milson also joining Wynnum Manly.
Other big-name signings include Brendan Frei, Gideon Gela-Mosby, Kitron Laka, Shalom O’Ofou and Pellow’s former Tigers teammates, Darius Farmer, Ollie Pascoe and Will Samuel.
But Pellow is thriving with the competition, feeling right at home at BMD Kougari Oval.
“It’s been a breeze,” Pellow said of fitting in at Wynnum Manly.
“All the staff and the lads, they’re very welcoming. It didn’t take long to fit in.
“I know you can get pretty nervous going to a new club but that was all thrown out the window in the first week there. Everyone was there with open arms.
“I thought it was just exciting they had a lot of turnover. It’s new faces and new opportunities.
“It was definitely a lot easier seeing Heady, Dezzie and JB around the club. Will Samuels, Darius, Ollie Pascoe are here too and I already knew a few boys at Wynnum. They were all very welcoming.”
Outside of footy, Pellow is a youth worker, looking after young Indigenous kids in child safety.
This is the other reason why he understands the importance of a strong mentor – not just for himself on the field, but what he can do for others off of it.
Pellow, a former teacher’s aide, studied youth work and said his career off the field is his way of giving back to the next generations.
“I’ve been working with an Indigenous-based company and we just look after youth in child safety or child custody,” he said.
“It’s basically just taking on roles that are like a dad role and providing a safe space for these kids. It’s about being a male role model for them.
“It means the world. It’s just striving to be that role model and setting a good example so they can follow up.
“It’s something I’ve always been interested in and something we have a bit of responsibility to do in the position that we’re in. It’s natural to help out the younger generation coming through.
“I’ve got one younger boy who’s really into footy, who loves his Broncos. (Souths Logan playmaker) Radean (Robinson) actually works with me too. There’s definitely a few footy players in there so that’s a good way of helping others.”
Wynnum Manly Seagulls 2023 gains and losses
Gains
Jack Croft (Newcastle Thunder), Darius Farmer (Brisbane Tigers), Kyle Foxwell (West Brisbane Panthers), Brendan Frei (North Queensland Cowboys), Gideon Gela-Mosby (Northern Pride), Kitron Laka (PNG Hunters), Jack Martin (Cronulla Sharks), Matthew Milson (Norths Devils), Johnson Murray (New Zealand), Shalom O’Ofou (St George Illawarra Dragons), Brendan O’Hagan (York Knights), Cooper Page-Wilson (Sydney Roosters), Ryan Papas (Brisbane Tigers), Ollie Pascoe (Brisbane Tigers), Tony Pellow (Brisbane Tigers), Will Samuel (Brisbane Tigers), Josh Simm (St Helen’s), Brody Tamarua (New Zealand), Nathaniel Tangimataiti (Souths Logan Magpies)
Losses
Luke Bateman (retired), Kyle Coghill (Norths Devils), Jayden Connors (West Brisbane Panthers), Caleb Daunt (Souths Logan Magpies), Max Elliott (retired), Ben Farr (New Zealand Warriors), Tom Farr (Central Queensland Capras), Kelepi Faukafa (Wynnum Juniors), Harrison Graham (Dolphins NRL), Sione Hopoate (released), Tristan Hope (Brisbane Tigers), Zac Hosking (Penrith Panthers), Brandon Jackonia (Souths Logan Magpies), Lachlan Lee (Wynnum Juniors), Matiu Love-Henry (retired), EJ Lui (released), Mathew Lyons (Western Clydesdales), Clayton Mack (released), Nofoasa Malutoa (Western Clydesdales), Nesta Meleisea-Watene (West Brisbane Panthers), Ryan O’Keefe (Wynnum Juniors), Aaron Rockley (retired), Sam Scarlett (retired), Ben Shea (Wynnum Juniors), Dredin Sorensen (Brisbane Tigers), Augustine Stowers (released), Jacob Sturt (released), Daine Spencer (released), Sebastian Winters-Chang (released)
