Story by Tom Boswell - Quest Newspapers
NEW Souths Logan Magpies recruit John Borland will follow in the footsteps of NRL greats Wayne Bennett and Mal Meninga when he becomes the latest police officer to play for the club.
The Browns Plains-based officer will join the Magpies Intrust Super Cup team and add his name to the long list of officers who have been part of the club, including Bennett, Meninga, Tony Gibson and Ash Lumby.
I'm looking forward to playing with a lot of mates who I played junior footy with and to play for Josh Hannay, Borland said.
I think the team will be really strong and it will be a good opportunity to play and train with some of the current Canberra Raiders players."
The booming 24-year-old centre and Mt Gravatt resident holds an interesting record in Queensland's biggest rugby league competition, featuring at four clubs in six years before signing with Souths Logan.
The 188cm talent and Queensland and Australian Queensland Police Service rugby league representative first signed with Burleigh Bears at 18 before playing his part in the Sunshine Coast Sea Eagles premiership-winning squad in 2009, which featured the likes of Daly Cherry-Evans, George Rose, Tony Williams and Trent Hodkinson.
In 2010, Borland moved to Rockhampton for work and signed with the Central Queensland Capras.
He was seen by former NRL legend Chris Close, invited to a training stint with the Gold Coast Titans and signed with feeder club Tweed Heads at the beginning of this year, but had to go back north for work.
While he has enjoyed stints with all clubs, Borland has been restricted to a minimum number of Intrust Super Cup appearances and featured heavily in the various clubs colts and A-grade teams but is determined to breakthrough into the Magpies starting roster.
"My goal is to settle in at Souths and stay here for a number of seasons and be a regular starter," Borland said.
Souths Logan President Jim McClelland said the club was proud to continue its strong connection with the police force.
Our traditions with the police go back to the late 70s through Wayne Bennett and we have always had a lot of police come through the club," McClelland said.
We are proud to have another one in our midst which adds to the high quality of people we already have here."
Borland is also expected to feature in the South East Muddies Queensland Police Service side.
NEW Souths Logan Magpies recruit John Borland will follow in the footsteps of NRL greats Wayne Bennett and Mal Meninga when he becomes the latest police officer to play for the club.
The Browns Plains-based officer will join the Magpies Intrust Super Cup team and add his name to the long list of officers who have been part of the club, including Bennett, Meninga, Tony Gibson and Ash Lumby.
I'm looking forward to playing with a lot of mates who I played junior footy with and to play for Josh Hannay, Borland said.
I think the team will be really strong and it will be a good opportunity to play and train with some of the current Canberra Raiders players."
The booming 24-year-old centre and Mt Gravatt resident holds an interesting record in Queensland's biggest rugby league competition, featuring at four clubs in six years before signing with Souths Logan.
The 188cm talent and Queensland and Australian Queensland Police Service rugby league representative first signed with Burleigh Bears at 18 before playing his part in the Sunshine Coast Sea Eagles premiership-winning squad in 2009, which featured the likes of Daly Cherry-Evans, George Rose, Tony Williams and Trent Hodkinson.
In 2010, Borland moved to Rockhampton for work and signed with the Central Queensland Capras.
He was seen by former NRL legend Chris Close, invited to a training stint with the Gold Coast Titans and signed with feeder club Tweed Heads at the beginning of this year, but had to go back north for work.
While he has enjoyed stints with all clubs, Borland has been restricted to a minimum number of Intrust Super Cup appearances and featured heavily in the various clubs colts and A-grade teams but is determined to breakthrough into the Magpies starting roster.
"My goal is to settle in at Souths and stay here for a number of seasons and be a regular starter," Borland said.
Souths Logan President Jim McClelland said the club was proud to continue its strong connection with the police force.
Our traditions with the police go back to the late 70s through Wayne Bennett and we have always had a lot of police come through the club," McClelland said.
We are proud to have another one in our midst which adds to the high quality of people we already have here."
Borland is also expected to feature in the South East Muddies Queensland Police Service side.
