AFTER three seasons of rugby league, culminating in a Group 4 Second Division premiership with Kootingal Roosters last season, Amos Ioasa is back aboard the Pirates ship.
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And it’s like he never left.
Pirates coach Mat Kelly commented as such after Ioasa made his return against Moree.
It was reiterated against Quirindi on Saturday with the half-back picking up the zone three points.
The service was still there, the strength, the running game and the ability to sniff out an opportunity.
He played a direct hand in at least two of Pirates’ tries and generally controlled the game well the 60 or so minutes he was on the field.
“After playing three years of league I was after something different,” Ioasa said.
Ironically it was the desire for a bit of a change that attracted him to league.
He played a season with Manilla and then two with the Roosters, where he was an integral part of their premiership success.
His Pirates return was delayed a few weeks after he picked up a hamstring injury during the pre-season, with Saturday just his second game.
The Moree Bulls the week before was his first and he said Saturday was a big improvement for Pirates.
“It was a lot better than last week,” Ioasa said.
The backs can take some of the ownership for that.
“The backs got a bit more go-forward today,” he said.
“That was a bit of a focus for us.”
“As a back unit we were disappointed (last week) at not getting over the gain line.
“Barbs (Anthony Barbara) and Bathy (Mitch Bath) got over the line for the forwards and we managed to get the forwards a roll-on.”
On the back of that, the likes of Conrad Starr were able to puncture the Lions’ line.
Pirates were brilliant in the first 25 minutes, with the Lions having no answer to their power and precision.
“That came off the back of simplifying the game plan and playing a bit more direct,” Ioasa said.
He said he was loving being back in the yellow and black.
“During the pre-season everything seemed foreign but at the same time exciting,” he said.
Not that things were too unfamiliar.
“I’ve played with a lot of the boys before,” he said.
Saturday also saw him teaming up in the halves again with Andrew Moodie.
He led the Roosters to victory last season and has also come back to Pirates this season.
They are currently three from four and are preparing for a big local derby this Saturday.
“It’ll be interesting,” Ioasa said.
“They got up last year, which a few of the boys are a bit dirty about.”
Pirates did though get their revenge in the minor semi-final.
