ALBURY Thunder have signed Tuki Jackson as senior coach for 2017.
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Jackson will take over as playing coach after Ben Jeffery decided to step down from the role late last season.
The powerful second rower or lock scored 14 tries over two seasons with Group 20 club Yanco Wamoon Hawks.
Originally hailing from Auckland, New Zealand, Jackson has played in France as well as Sydney, where he first encountered Jeffery.
After playing representative football this year alongside Thunder star Dave Cowhan, Jackson said he was looking forward to arriving on the Border.
“I can’t wait,” he said.
“I’ve known a few of the boys for a while, so I’m looking forward to getting down here with them and having a bit of a change.
“I know the club has been a bit unlucky of late, but I’ve heard a lot of great things about them and was really keen to get down here.”
The Thunder job will be his second gig as a senior coach, but his first as the go-to man, after sharing the coaching duties with Glenn Dumbrell last season.
But with the likes of Jeffery and Cowhan by his side, Jackson said he was feeling good about coaching solo.
“I’ve learned a lot from the coaches I’ve had in France, Sydney and Queensland, now it’s about taking what I’ve learned from them and applying it here,” he said.
“It was definitely hard (co-coaching Yanco), there was a lot of pressure.
“Sharing the role up there was good.
“I’ve got a big task ahead of me, doing it on my own.
“But having those other guys around is a real bonus, it will make the job a bit easier.
“I’m mindful of making sure I’m still performing as a player.”
Albury Thunder secretary Warren Jenkinson said Jackson ‘ticked every box’ the club presented him with.
“I think we were in need of a bit of change, having Tuki come on board takes a bit of pressure off Ben,” he said.
“He’s got great size, he’s quite elusive, has a good turn of pace and a bit of starch in defence to boot.
“Tuki had let it be known that he was interested in coming to Albury, but we understand he was highly sought after by almost every other Group 9 club.
“He was too good to pass up.
“The fact that he’s played with guys like Izzy (Rawhiti) and a few others before means he should gel in well with the group as well.
“The other players spoke very highly of him.”
The Thunder finished fourth on the ladder in 2016, and bowed out of the premiership race with a 24-6 semi-final loss to Junee.
The club is also searching for someone with playing experience to coach the reserve grade team.