The tallest peak on the planet is named after Welsh geographer Sir George Everest, so it’s fitting Trundle has turned to a Welshmen to scale the Woodbridge Cup’s biggest mountain in 2019.
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Josh Miles has been appointed as the Boomers’ first grade coach for next season, filling the sizable boots of two-time premiership winning mentor Adam Hall.
Hall returned to his junior club in 2017 and enjoyed instant success in winning the Cup premiership that season, snapping a 35-year title drought at the same time.
To prove it wasn’t a fluke, Hall helped lead the club to back-to-back crowns in September, a thrilling 26-22 victory over the Rhinos in Manildra the icing on an incredible two-year stint at Berryman Oval.
Hall’s responsible for the club’s most successful era, with the titles in 2018 and 2017 the Boomers’ first since 1982, and 1972 and 1952 before that.
Coming in after Hall won’t be easy but it’s a challenge Miles is ready to tackle.
“They’re massive shoes to fill,” Miles said.
“It’s not going to be an easy task after losing a couple of senior players, but I’m sure Hally will be there dipping his toes in along the way ... hopefully,” he laughed.
Miles helped rugby union club Parkes Boars to last year’s New Holland Agriculture Cup grand final, narrowly going down to the undefeated Narromine.
The Boars-to-Boomers path is a well worn one.
The club had ex-Boars premiership winners Adam Porter, Mahe Fangupo and Israel Symington on the books in 2018, and Miles is again keen to work with that trio.
They’ve got a big following and a lot of the off-field stuff is all set up.
- New Boomers coach Josh Miles on the Trundle club.
The 25-year-old grew up in Wales playing both codes, his rugby league links originating with the South Wales Scorpions in the league championship one back home and says code-hopping ahead of the 2019 season about a new challenge.
“Hally made contact with me a little while back and asked if I’d be interested so I just had a bit of a chat with him, went over to Trundle and had a meeting and went from there,” Miles said.
“The reason I went over is the set up there, they’ve got a big following and a lot of the off-field stuff is all set up.
“I guess they’ve had some good years over the last few seasons and if it’s not broken don’t fix it ... but I’ll definitely try and put my own spin on things.”
From Bridgend in the south of Wales, Miles played a handful of games with Trundle throughout 2018 but juggled his Boars and Boomers commitments.
He’ll focus solely on league next season in what will be his first senior coaching role.
Miles and the Boomers will look to begin working towards a hat-trick of Woodbridge Cup premierships with pre-season training in January.
Nick McGrath
Editor, Central Western Daily
Editor, Central Western Daily
