By PETER ROWE
It’s all change at George Burnett Park for 2026 with the South Perth Lions appointing a new coach. Last season saw the Red and Whites claim the Fuel to Go and Play Minor Premiership and make the grand final, but can they go one better this time round? PETER ROWE spoke to new coach Anton Clutterbuck.
For South Perth old boy Anton Clutterbuck 2026 is a massive challenge.
Clutterbuck is the new man at the helm at the Lions, looking to emulate and perhaps go one better than last season when the club took out the Minor Premiership before falling to the Willagee Bears in the NRLWA Fuel to Go and Play Premiership grand final.
Coach Duane Gwiazdzinski has moved on, as has Ken Allen medalist Samisoni Langi, along with several others, including exciting hooker Jayden Evans.
Rated the best number nine in the competition, Evans has moved east to play Jersey Flegg at the Sydney Roosters.
“It’s good to see him do well and we all wish him the best,” Clutterbuck said.
“We’ve lost a few players, two good ones there, but the club has been working hard over the summer recruiting and we have a number of new faces all pushing for spots.
“The boys have been putting in at training – a lot of effort and it’s now time to gel.”
Clutterbuck, who arrived in WA from Mt Albert in Auckland in 1995, started out at the Canning Bulldogs before switching to the Lions and has been there ever since.
“It’s a strong club, historically with a tight group of players and we have a number of new faces we want to bring in,” Clutterbuck said.
“Tough to replace those who have moved on but the club is working hard on a couple more additions.
“We are also working on junior pathways and looking to integrate quality youngsters into the system.”
There is though, still plenty of South Perth tradition to form the backbone of the side for the new campaign.
Harry Debique and Billy Judge have, by all accounts, been ‘training the house down’ and with players like Caleb Norton, Mason Hiko and Corban Daniels there as well, Clutterbuck has the makings of a solid squad.
Reagan Tumoana and Hal Day, Marc Fariu and Simeon Oi all return as does South Perth junior Kade McDonald and Luke-David Wells Talamaivao, who was at Fremantle in 2025.
Keaton Mathews returns, and Dimize Cullen, Karra Wiringi and Jimmy Elliott are names to look out for. Elliot played front row last season before a hamstring injury ended his year early.
“Yeah, a number of changes and new faces, but it’s one step at a time,” Clutterbuck said of his squad.
The expectation is high, as it always is from the club and with a 10-team competition with no byes, Clutterbuck has admitted it will be a challenge – one all clubs this year will face.
“It’s great to see growth after a few years of falling away,” Clutterbuck said.
“When I arrived here in WA back in the mid 90s I think there were 12 premiership teams, so it is really good to see us getting back to those numbers.
“I can see that off the Bears announcement there has been a spike in interest and we’ve had a few union boys turn up for training as well.”
The Lions will have a warmup game against Ellenbrook on March 28 and Clutterbuck will then assess strengths and weaknesses.
Early days, but with the addition of a few new faces to add to the experience already there, South Perth Lions will be among the challengers again.
“The signs in preseason are good,” Clutterbuck said positively.
“If everyone buys in then I think we will be in a good place.”
