EASTS TIGERS prop Sam Lavea will oversee player development at Redlands Rugby League Club next season.
The 23-year-old Queensland Cup prodigy signed with the club for their 50th year following the departure of Troy Clarkson, who served the club in the development manager role for about eight years.
Lavea received the players' player and best and fairest awards at Easts Tigers last season and will train with the Craig Bellamy coached Melbourne Storm ahead of the 2020 NRL season.
Club president Todd Flahey said Lavea would work with junior and senior players while chasing his NRL dream.
"Change is as good as a holiday sometimes," he said.
"Sam has got a good footy brain. It is all current and fresh knowledge that will be beneficial to our kids and their development."
Flahey said Lavea would organise a training plan and run sessions with the players throughout the season.
"It opens up the field to a whole new way of thinking," he said.
"Everyone has their own styles so some stuff they did not pick up off Troy they will pick up better off Sam.
"He is a good person for the kids to look up to and strive to be like.
"They will be able to pick up some fresh info on what is happening in the game at the top level."
Lavea will work with the forwards, allowing Parrots feeder club Wynnum-Manly to train the halves.
Flahey said the club would build culture by integrating senior and junior training sessions next season.
"We are kind of bringing back the old school buddy session," he said.
"We get seniors to work with juniors as one whole set up and get everyone to buy into what the club is looking to achieve."
Lavea will train alongside Melbourne Storm greats Cameron Smith and Cameron Munster in what is widely regarded as one of the NRL's most gruelling pre-seasons.
Read more local sport news here.
