Off-season signing Luke Polselli is the frontrunner for the No.1 jersey at the Sunshine Coast Falcons, after an impressive pre-season.
The 22-year-old showed glimpses of his game-breaking potential during trials and is poised to play at fullback in Round 1, unless a Melbourne Storm-contracted player is pitched into the position.
Coach Sam Mawhinney said the ex-Newtown Jets flyer has grabbed his attention since joining the Queensland Cup club.
“I’ve been impressed with his energy at the back for us,” he said.
“He’s really asking questions (of defences) and he’s energetic, so he’s quite good for us.
Polselli and Matt Milson were eye-catching during stints at fullback during the pre-season but the former has the edge in the battle for position.
“He’s very busy for a fullback and always looking at where he can take the opposition on,” the coach said.
“He’s also good at organising our line (in defence) as well, so he has some good attributes.
“He’s probably likely to start in Round 1 for us if we don’t get Melbourne player (in that position),” Mawhinney said.
Polselli was part of Newtown’s premiership-winning squad in the New South Wales Cup in 2019 and was in sight of that club’s NRL affiliates Cronulla Sharks.
He linked with the Mackay Cutters in 2020, running more than 100m in their season opener, before the state league season was cancelled due to the impact of COVID-19.
He’s now forcing his claims at the Falcons, who have an affiliation with the Melbourne Storm.
The team has played three trials, including a comprehensive win over Ipswich and losses to Central Queensland and Norths.
“We’ve got to hold the footy,” Mawhinney said after a 20-16 loss to the Devils at Tewantin on Saturday.
“That’s the big takeaway for us (from trials). We struggled to build any pressure with the footy.
“We need to respect the footy and control it better.”
They used 33 men in their first trial, 27 in their second and 22 in their final trial.
The Falcons’ first game of the Queensland Cup season is against Northern Pride at Sunshine Coast Stadium on March 20, 3pm.
