General News
28 May, 2021
Bulls premiership skipper locked in
POMBORNEIT skipper Grant Place will lead the Bulls for a fourth season later this year.
POMBORNEIT skipper Grant Place will lead the Bulls for a fourth season later this year.
The three-time reigning premier announced the reappointment of Place as captain of its division one side for the 2021/22 season on Wednesday.
Place said he contemplated whether a change at the helm was needed for his side, but ultimately decided he wanted to stick around and lead the Bulls’ quest for a fourth successive premiership.
“I did think about it more than other years but I suppose I thought why not,” he said.
“I thought whether a change could freshen things up but everyone seems happy enough so while it’s working I’ll stick at it.
“At times you can make changes for the sake of making changes and sometimes it tends not to work so I thought bugger it, I’ll stick it out.
“Everything’s been going good and there’s no reason why not (go again) so I’ll go and try and win a fourth (flag).”
Place’s reappointment continues a recent period of stability for the Bulls.
He led the club to one day premierships in 2018/19, 2019/20 and 2020/21 as well as Twenty20 flags in 2018/19 and 2020/21.
His tenure at the helm has also seen the club’s division three side claim a premiership (2019/20), while a number of the Bulls’ emerging stars have started to establish themselves as regulars in Place’s side.
The skipper said while it has not always been easy sailing leading the Bulls, he added “it’s been an extremely enjoyable three years” as the club’s figurehead.
“Albeit we’ve had a strong side but I still think while I’m out there, I’d obviously still be thinking about it anyway, I’d like to have input into what’s happening,” Place said.
“I don’t know how I would go back to just playing now and not being captain but I’ve enjoyed the responsibility.
“I probably haven’t had as strong years individually as the couple of years prior to taking on the captaincy but other things have probably been at play.
“Like I’ll be trying to get other guys involved or always trying to find ways to get guys into the game or get more improvement out of them. It’s one thing I’m consistently striving for.”
The Bulls are confident the majority of last season’s premiership team will return for the upcoming campaign and was already in the process of trying to strengthen its squad.
“We’ll be pretty similar with Hilly (Brad Hillman) being the main out so far,” Place said.
“It’s always hard to tell at this stage but I would think all the locals will be going around again and hopefully we’ll lock in Larry (Lahiru Fernando) and Senda (Tharaka Sendanayake) closer to the season.
“Fingers crossed we can sign those boys again and there’s a couple of other guys I’ve been having chats with but I find it hard recruiting with local cricket.
“There’s not too many jumping ship around the area I don’t think.”