By LIZ MOORE

They’re two best mates from Rockhampton who are making a big impression on and off the field for the Magpies.

Living in Premier coach Todd Dammers’ granny flat, Theo Fourie and Liam Fletcher are becoming big voices and top role models at Souths as the club reshapes itself to include a bigger country contingent and take best advantage of the qualities and values these regional recruits bring with them.

“Theo and Liam live with me. They bring old heads to young frames,” Dammers said of 21-year-old Fletcher and 19-year-old Fourie. “They both moved out of central Queensland at 17. They’re just hard-working boys who don’t take anything for granted. They’re really driven by having an impact on the club, which is what we want.

“From my point of view, they bring those country values. We’ve got a number of players from different parts, from Toowoomba and different parts, and it’s just that tapestry of different walks of life that make our club and our group so much stronger because of that.

“With Theo and Liam, obviously I see the footy side of them, but I also get the pastoral care side of them,” Dammers said of his young tenants. “And while we don’t see them all the time, they’re still part of the family.”