FOUR former Tumut Blues players have given the club a massive boost by announcing their return for the 2025 season.
Michael Fenn, Mitch Ivill, Todd Broad and Parrish Bellette have all rejoined the club as it seeks to climb the Group 9 ladder after a tough rebuilding season this year.
Co-captain-coach Zac Masters said he and co-coach Dean Bristow were “pumped” about recruiting the four players.
Michael Fenn spent last year with NSW Cup side the North Sydney Bears.
“He’s a great one to have back on board,” Masters said.
“Half way through last year he told us he wanted to come back, and that was a confidence boost during a tough year.”
Todd Broad played in the Blues’ 2019 premiership side, and many other Tumut teams prior to that and since then he has been a key part of the club’s coaching team.
He is keen to get back on the field in 2025, and Masters said he will play in the halves.
“That will give us a bit more depth in the halves,” he said.
Parrish Bellette has been living in Shellharbour and playing for the Kiama Knights, and is likely to play in the outside backs, in particular in the centres.
“He’s bigger and fitter than I’ve ever seen him,” Masters said.
Mitch Ivill has played many seasons with both the Tumut Rugby union Bulls and the Blues, and had a successful season as a player-co-coach with the Bulls this year.
He debuted for them as a sixteen-year-old.
He’s coming back to the Blues, the club with which he won a premiership in 2019.
It was the return of the other the players that persuaded Mitch Ivill to return to the Blues.
“A lot of old mates I played with when we won the grand final (in 2022), and it’s a good opportunity I’m looking forward to,” he said.
He admitted it was a tough choice.
“The Bulls are looking good for next season, they’ve got some good recruits, but playing with these guys I know what I’m getting because I’ve played with them before,” he said.
Ivill often plays fullback, but says he’s happy to slot into any position he is picked in in 2025.
“I’ll play anywhere,” he said.
“Mal (Malik Aitken) had a good year at fullback so I’ll fill in wherever I’m picked. Hopefully I’ve packed on enough kilos to move into the centres.”
His is a timely signing with the likely retirement of club stalwart five-eighth Jacob Toppin.
If Toppin doesn’t take the field in 2025, he will be a big loss but fortunately the only player loss for the Blues. This is very welcome for a club which lot no fewer than 15 players in the 2023-24 off-season, and suffered accordingly.
“It’s looking good,” Masters said.
The Blues will start pre-season training in the second week of January.
