Spencer looking to strong season with the Seagulls

Wynnum Manly Seagulls fullback Daine Spencer, after featuring in his side’s recent trial match against the Brisbane Broncos, only has two more games to go to match his totally tally for the 2021 season.

Spencer played just three games last year – with an impressively diverse range of injuries cruelling his debut season with the Seagulls.

“I only played three games in 2021... it was pretty difficult, but still enjoyable getting around the lads,” Spencer said.

“I broke my foot in the pre-season, and then I came back and played a couple of games... got my teeth knocked out, missed a week, then came back and did my knee, so, just riddled with it. 

“It was pretty humbling, just to sit there and watch the boys go all the way (to the grand final) and not being a massive part of it.

“(But) it was good in a way, because I got to learn a lot about myself.

“The boys just got around me, checking if I was alright. It was a real good support network, friends and family, I always had people around me.”

This year, he is back with a renewed determination to stay on the field and play well – and being Darwin-born, but Canberra-raised – he is more acclimatised to the Queensland heat this time around.

“Pre-season has been good, really good, it's probably been one of the most enjoyable pre-seasons I've had,” Spencer said.

“I'm really looking forward to the season, getting the season started. We're looking really strong. 

“I moved up in November 2020... it was stinking hot and it took a bit of time getting used to, I think I lost six kilos as soon as I moved up in sweat. It was pretty intense, but I have acclimatised now. I went home over the Christmas break and it was freezing. 

“(My goal this year is) staying healthy. Doing heaps of prehab, but on the field, just kick defuses, so catching the ugliest kicks that I can. Don't put the boys on the back foot in the game.”

Coming off a strong season last year which saw the side pipped in the grand final by Norths Devils, the Seagulls have also lost some key personnel with the likes of Jayden Berrell, Delouise Hoeter and Jack Campagnolo getting opportunities with NRL clubs.

However, Spencer, who wants to be a youth worker, said the squad was looking good and was primed to give unleash some of their young up-and-comers who claimed the Hastings Deering Colts title last year.

”We've got heaps of blokes from the Colts team that won the comp last year - Jacob Sturt, Ben Farr, Maxy Plath, Ethan Malt , Sefa Roache-Faimalo.

“They've all come up and they've been really good so, they're actually looking like they will potentially push for starting spots which is really good.

“We also have a bit of diversity in the side with experience, we've got the older fellas as well, to level us out. Roc (Aaron Rockley) is coming out of retirement, the old bull.”

Spencer said his dream was “to win the comp with Wynnum”, but he also wanted to play in the NRL eventually and he doesn’t need to look far for inspiration.

“It was really good to watch Selwyn (Cobbo) do his thing,” Spencer said of the young Broncos back who made his Cup debut with the Seagulls last year.

“He's an absolute freak of nature in everything he does... there will be a play on, and he'll just make something out of nothing.

“It was good, just to see the way he plays the game. He never puts his head down. He's got massive, massive ups for him. The sky is the limit for him. 

“Just being able to watch him do that is pretty inspirational to all of us other boys who play fullback. If we can mimic anything like what he did last year, I think we'll give him a good run in the comp.” 

Seagulls coach Adam Brideson said Spencer was doing well to push for the fullback spot in the Cup team alongside rising players like Ben Farr.

“Daino is very energetic, brings a lot of energy around the place,” Brideson said.

“He does a fantastic job on the training field. Obviously, he had an interrupted season last year with lots of injuries, but he's been able to get his body right doing the pre-season.

“He's done a great job. Obviously, really looking to forward to getting him on the field. 

“He's been really good during the pre-season. Hopefully, he does a good job during the trials and see where he ends up.”

The Seagulls will face Burleigh Bears in Round 1.