LOCAL rugby league premiers Brothers have appointed Josh Leisemann to take over from successful coach Wayne Barnett.
Leisemann is Brothers through and through and bleeds Blue and White after starting his playing career at the club at the age of just five.
“My family has had an involvement here at Brothers for decades stretching back to when my great grandfather pulled the jersey on,” Josh said.
“I would love to be playing with the boys but a full knee reconstruction in 2021 was required and the surgery wasn’t a complete success.
“It meant I had to go back under the knife again recently, so I think my days of pulling on the boots are finished.”
While Leisemann hasn’t coached at the top level before he has had coaching experience assisting Jason Connors as Coaching Director with the Brothers Juniors for three years.
Josh will also get to lean on close friend and former team-mate Sam Krueger who he has recently appointed as his assistant coach.
When asked if he was negotiating with any big-name players he replied with “a few old players are talking to their family about playing but we have a strong junior base so some players will make the natural progress.”
“This year’s club captain Matt Bell has signed back on, and I would love to have 16 more Matty Bell’s,” he said.
Winning and going back-toback is the ultimate goal but more importantly doing it the right way, creating a strong club culture, and building for the future are also intertwined.
“I love this club and want all Old Boys from the club to be proud of what we are going to do.”
