The Western Force is thrilled to announce 2022 debutants George Poolman and Max Burey have re-signed for the 2024-25 seasons.
20-year-old Poolman, a product of the Fortescue Academy Program, has re-committed to his adopted home state, tallying up four years in the West.
In his rookie year, Poolman played every match of the Super Rugby Pacific competition, scoring his first professional try in Round 3 at HBF Park against Moana Pasifika.
The versatile back is eager to work on his form and add size in pre-season.
“This year was a huge milestone for me, I have learnt a great deal, but now it is time to ‘beef up’ and naturally put on some size to aid my performance on field,” Poolman mentioned.
The detail the coaches go into is insightful; the smaller things that people tend to brush over are a real focus. The coaching group have taught me to acknowledge the importance of core skills, they have made me think about the game differently.
I have really bought into the history and team here at the Force. I want to be affiliated with this club, what we stand for, and our motivation for success.
It was frustrating to fall short this season; we knew we were far off our best. We will learn from this, accelerate into pre-season with the core group, and prepare for the season ahead.”
Fly-half Max Burey flared onto the Super Rugby scene in Round 11 against the Crusaders, kicking at 100% accuracy at Orangetheory Stadium.
His journey to a Super Rugby contract speaks volumes of his resilience, flying in for training mid-season, off the back of Australian 7’s duties.
Earning the #10 jersey in the final four matches, the 24-year-old country kid from Wagga Wagga is relentless in attack adding dimension to the squad’s line-up.
A student of the game, the playmaker said: “Super Rugby was exactly what I expected; it was fast and tough. I just want to keep playing more of it.”
“I’ve spent a lot of time with the coaches on developing my game management and how you can better impact a team. The detail they go into is beneficial, and I have learnt a great deal just in my short time at the club.
I think it’s essential to have the core group of players return; when our pre-season starts, we will start at the level we finished this season.
The games against the Cheetahs are critical for generating clear focus points for the Super season. These games will allow us to learn how to play against different, quality opposition and construct ways to adapt to situations. This is vital to me as a playmaker to extend my knowledge bandwidth.”