Mackay Cutters
Club information
Full nameMackay Cutters Rugby League Football Club
ColoursPrimary:
  Maroon
  Black
Secondary:
  Blue
  White
Founded2007 (2007)
Websitemackaycutters.com.au
Current details
Ground(s)
ChairmanSteve Dowden
CoachDave Elliott
CaptainRoss Bella
CompetitionIntrust Super Cup
2022 season11th
Current season
Records
Premierships (2nd grade)1 (2013)
Wooden spoons (2nd grade)3 (2009, 2016, 2018)
Most capped125 – Liam Taylor
Highest points scorer843 – Liam Taylor

The Mackay Cutters are a semi-professional rugby league football club based in Mackay, Queensland. They compete in Queensland's top rugby league competition, the Queensland Cup. The club was admitted to the Queensland Cup in 2007, alongside the Northern Pride, and first competed in the 2008 season.[1]

Since 2008, the club has appeared in two finals series, winning the Grand Final in 2013.[2] The team's management headquarters and home ground, Stadium Mackay, currently known as BB Print Stadium due to sponsorship rights, is located in the suburb of South Mackay.

Along with the Pride and Townsville Blackhawks, the Cutters are affiliated with the National Rugby League's North Queensland Cowboys.

History

Prior to the Cutters entry into the Queensland Cup in 2008, Mackay rugby league's only representation in the statewide competition was the Mackay Sea Eagles, who played in the inaugural season in 1996 before withdrawing from the competition. In September 2007, the Mackay Cutters and Northern Pride were granted provisional entry into the Queensland Cup for the 2008 season.[3] On 7 December 2007, their entry into the competition was confirmed by the Queensland Rugby League.[4]

Former North Queensland Cowboys and Parramatta Eels five-eighth Shane Muspratt was announced as captain-coach for the Cutters' inaugural season.[5] Among the first recruits to the club were former Queensland State of Origin representative John Doyle, Jamie McDonald, Luke Young and Adam Schubert.[6][7] Doyle would not play a game for the Cutters, retiring due to consistent knee injuries in January 2008.[8]

The Cutters endured a rough two first seasons under Muspratt, finishing 9th in 2008 and last in 2009. The Cutters first ever game was a 16–44 loss to rivals the Northern Pride. Their first ever win came in Round 5, when they defeated the Redcliffe Dolphins 24–22 at Dolphin Oval.[9] The 2009 season started strongly with three straight wins before a run of nine straight losses sunk them to the bottom of the table. They finished with the wooden spoon due to points differential.[10]

In 2010, former Souths Logan Magpies and Queensland Residents coach Paul Bramley joined the club, leading the Cutters to the finals for the first time.[11] They finished sixth, and eliminated the third-placed Sunshine Coast Sea Eagles before being knocked out by the Norths Devils, one game short of the Grand Final.[12]

Bramley left the Cutters at the end of the 2010 season to join the Burleigh Bears and was replaced by Anthony Seibold, who led the South Wales Scorpions to promotion a year earlier. Former Cowboys and New Zealand Warriors halfback Grant Rovelli also joined the club permanently from the Cowboys and was named captain for the 2011 season.[13] Also in 2011, after playing out of local junior rugby league grounds for three seasons, the Cutters moved to the newly built 12,200 seat Stadium Mackay. The first game at the new stadium was a 14–16 loss to the Easts Tigers in Round 20 of the 2011 season.[14]

Under Seibold, the Cutters missed the finals in both 2011 and 2012, with Seibold leaving to coach the Melbourne Storm under-20 side in 2013.[15]

In 2013, Kim Williams, a former Melbourne Storm SG Ball Cup coach, joined the club and led the Cutters' to their most successful season despite a number of difficult setbacks. On 28 April 2013, just hours after a 22–22 draw with the Tweed Heads Seagulls, Cowboys-contracted hooker Alex Elisala was found unconscious and not breathing after jumping from a hotel balcony. He died in hospital the following day.[16] In honour of Elisala, the Cutters retired his number 14 jersey for the rest of the season.[17] Despite the tragedy, the Cutters pushed forward and finished the season in second on the ladder.[18] In Week 1 of the finals, they suffered a 18–31 loss to the Easts Tigers before bouncing back to defeat the Ipswich Jets and Northern Pride to qualify for their first Grand Final and set up a rematch with Easts.[19]

On 28 September 2013, the Cutters defeated Easts 27–20 in the Grand Final at North Ipswich Reserve to claim their maiden Queensland Cup premiership.[2] The side that day featured five contracted-Cowboys players; Michael Morgan, Kalifa Faifai Loa, Sam Hoare, Anthony Mitchell and Jason Taumalolo, with Mitchell winning the Duncan Hall Medal for man of the match.[20]

The Cutters could not defend their premiership in 2014, losing six of their Grand Final winning side to NRL clubs and finishing in ninth place.[21] In 2015, Williams final year as head coach, the club missed the finals once again, finishing in eighth. Following the 2015 season, Williams became the head coach of the Central Queensland Capras.[22]

2016 proved to be a disastrous year for the Cutters, as they finished the season with their second wooden spoon. On 23 June 2016, new head coach David Simpson left the club after 14 games, in which the club won just one game. He was replaced by Jim Wilson, who served as interim head coach for the rest of the season.[23][24] Despite the poor year, Cowboys-contracted hooker Josh Chudleigh became the first Cutters player to win the Courier Mail Medal for Queensland Cup Player of the Year and was named at hooker in the 2016 Team of the Year.[25]

On 8 August 2016, North Queensland Cowboys under-20s assistant coach Steve Sheppard, was appointed as head coach of the Cutters on a two-year deal.[26] During Sheppard's three seasons at the helm, the club failed to make the finals, finishing 8th in 2017, last in 2018 and 11th in 2019.[27] On 30 August 2019, the club announced that Sheppard would leave the club at the end of the 2019 season.[28]

On 3 October 2019, veteran NRL assistant coach Michael Crawley was announced as the new Cutters head coach, signing a two-year deal. He had previously worked as an assistant at the Canberra Raiders, North Queensland Cowboys and Newcastle Knights.[29]

In August 2021, Crawley announced his departure from the club after two years, joining the Canberra Raiders, with Townsville Blackhawks U21s head coach Dave Elliott named as his replacement.[30]

Season summaries

P=Premiers, R=Runners-Up, M=Minor Premierships, F=Finals Appearance, W=Wooden Spoons
(brackets represent finals games)
CompetitionGames
Played		Games
Won		Games
Drawn		Games
Lost		Ladder
Position		PRMFWCoachCaptain(s)Details
2071129 / 11Shane Muspratt
22711412 / 12
♦
Jardine Bobongie
22 (2)11 (1)110 (1)6 / 12
♦
Paul Bramley
2281139 / 12Anthony SeiboldGrant Rovelli
22100128 / 12
22 (4)14 (3)26 (1)2 / 12
♦
♦
Kim Williams
Jardine Bobongie, Joel Clinton
24110139 / 13
23101128 / 14
Chris Gesch, Liam Taylor
23411814 / 14
♦
David Simpson / Jim Wilson
Brenden Treston
23102118 / 14Steve Sheppard
Andrew Davey, Setaimata Sa
23411814 / 14
♦
Tom Murphy
23701611 / 14
Cooper Bambling
1001N/A[31]Michael Crawley
17401312 / 14
Ross Bella

2022 Squad

Mackay Cutters 2022 Squad
First team squad Coaching staff
  • Ross Bella (c) – PR
  • Jack Brock – PR
  • Hayden Brownsey – SR
  • Flynn Camilleri – CE, WG
  • Adam Cook – HB, FE
  • Ewan Coutts – SR
  • Sean Dalton – HK
  • Sam Fa'apito – CE
  • Brandon Finnegan – HB
  • Mitch Fogarty – HK
  • Jake Hawkins – FE
  • Jordan Hill – WG
  • Jack Hoffmann – LK
  • Tyler Holmes – CE
  • Luke Ingram – PR
  • Tom Irelandes – FE, LK
  • Brett Kelly – CE
  • Kyle Krisanski-Kennedy – FB
  • Jayden Morgan – PR
  • Sean Mullany – HK, LK
  • Andre Niko – FB, WG
  • Hayden Pace – WG
  • Blake Paskins – CE
  • Zac Patch – LK
  • Jake Riley – WG, CE
  • Hiale Roycroft – SR, PR
  • Kyle Schneider – HK
  • Tom Sly – CE, FB
  • Henri Stocks – HB, FE
  • Matthew Vessey – SR
  • Luke Webley – PR

Head coach

  • Dave Elliott

Assistant coaches

  • Brendan Carter (assistant coach)
  • Michael Comerford (assistant coach)
  • Chad Buckby (assistant coach)
  • Brett Sartor (head of medical)
  • Dean Callaghan (head of strength & conditioning)
Legend:
  • (c) Captain(s)
  • (vc) Vice-captain(s)

Updated: 28 July 2022
Source(s): Mackay Cutters

Coaches

Original Mackay Cutters logo

The Cutters' current coach, Dave Elliott, is their ninth in club history. Kim Williams is their longest serving and most successful coach.

NoCoachTenureMatchesWonDrawnLostWin %
1Shane Muspratt2008–2009421422633.3%
2Paul Bramley2010241211150%
3Anthony Seibold2011–2012441812540.9%
4Kim Williams2013–2015733833252.1%
5David Simpson20161411127.1%
6Jim Wilson2016930633.3%
7Steve Sheppard2017–2019692134530.4%
8Michael Crawley2020–202118401422.2%
9Dave Elliott2022–present1560940%

Emblems and colours

On 2 November 2007, the Daily Mercury unveiled the Cutters logo after holding a promotion inviting people to submit designs for the club's first crest. The winning design was submitted by Ashley Hanson of Townsville and was selected by Cutters' management from over 50 submissions.[32]

Honours

  • Premierships: 1
2013

Statistics and Records

Biggest Wins

MarginOpponentScoreVenueDate
48Norths Devils52–4Bishop Park25 June 2017
42Burleigh Bears46–4Stadium Mackay18 July 2015
40Ipswich Jets52–12North Ipswich Reserve26 March 2022

Biggest Losses

MarginOpponentScoreVenueDate
54Ipswich Jets0–54BB Print Stadium6 July 2018
52Ipswich Jets10–62North Ipswich Reserve2 August 2014
50Souths Logan Magpies10–60BB Print Stadium24 April 2022

Most Consecutive Wins

  • 6, 2 August 2008 – 28 March 2009
  • 5, 14 March 2015 – 11 April 2015
  • 5, 22 May 2010 – 19 June 2010

Most Consecutive Losses

  • 10, 20 May 2018 – 29 July 2018
  • 9, 29 August 2015 – 24 April 2016
  • 9, 18 April 2009 – 20 June 2019

Most Games for Club

  • 125, Liam Taylor (2011–2016)
  • 111, Jardine Bobongie (2009–2013, 2018)
  • 96, Tyson Martin (2010–2016, 2018)
  • 85, Chris Gesch (2013–2015)
  • 84, Chris Giumelli (2008–2011)

Most Tries for Club

  • 52, Liam Taylor (2011–2016)
  • 31, Bureta Faraimo (2011–2013)
  • 30, Yamba Bowie (2017–present)
  • 26, Jordan Pereira (2015–2017)
  • 24, Jardine Bobongie (2009–2013, 2018)

Most tries in a match

Most Goals in a Match

Most Points in a Match

Most Tries in a Season

Most Points in a Season

  • 170 (11 tries, 63 goals), Liam Taylor in 2013
  • 164 (12 tries, 58 goals), Liam Taylor in 2016
  • 156 (13 tries, 52 goals), Liam Taylor in 2014

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Cowboys eligible for Mackay Cutters spots". ABC News. 11 October 2007.
  2. 1 2 Cutters make history with grand final win Daily Mercury
  3. ↑ "Archived copy". qrl.com.au. Archived from the original on 24 July 2008. Retrieved 12 January 2022.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  4. ↑ "Archived copy". qrl.com.au. Archived from the original on 23 July 2008. Retrieved 12 January 2022.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  5. ↑ "Archived copy". qrl.com.au. Archived from the original on 23 July 2008. Retrieved 12 January 2022.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  6. ↑ "Archived copy". qrl.com.au. Archived from the original on 12 October 2007. Retrieved 12 January 2022.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  7. ↑ "Archived copy". qrl.com.au. Archived from the original on 24 July 2008. Retrieved 12 January 2022.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  8. ↑ "Archived copy". qrl.com.au. Archived from the original on 23 July 2008. Retrieved 12 January 2022.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  9. ↑ "Close win for Mackay Cutters over Dolphins". ABC News. 14 April 2008.
  10. ↑ Wooden spoon for Cutters after slipping to the 14th Daily Mercury
  11. ↑ New Cutters coach plans for 10 Daily Mercury
  12. ↑ "Cutters thrash Sea Eagles - ABC News". Australian Broadcasting Corporation. 5 September 2010.
  13. ↑ "Mackay Cutters season ready to launch - ABC (none) - Australian Broadcasting Corporation". Australian Broadcasting Corporation.
  14. ↑ Bastable, Kate. "Countdown is on for kickoff". The Daily Mercury. Retrieved 8 June 2011.
  15. ↑ Seibold gets key storm role The Morning Bulletin
  16. ↑ "Young Cowboy dies in hospital". ABC. 29 April 2013. Retrieved 11 April 2017.
  17. ↑ Pain of losing a top mate Alex Elisala Daily Mercury
  18. ↑ "Cutters secure home semi-final - ABC News". Australian Broadcasting Corporation. 26 August 2013.
  19. ↑ "Cutters to meet Tigers in state final". 22 September 2013.
  20. ↑ "Cutters win maiden Intrust Super Cup title". 29 September 2013.
  21. ↑ "Intrust Super Cup gains & losses". 24 January 2014.
  22. ↑ Capras announce Kim Williams 2016 coach stanthorpeborderpost.com.au
  23. ↑ Simpson gets top job nod Daily Mercury
  24. ↑ Breaking. Cutters coach David Simpson resigns Daily Mercury
  25. ↑ "Chudleigh wins Courier-Mail Medal". 31 August 2016.
  26. ↑ "Cutters appoint 2017 coach". 9 August 2016.
  27. ↑ Major list overhaul not part of Cutters planning The Chronicle
  28. ↑ "Mackay Cutters and coach Sheppard to part ways". 30 August 2019.
  29. ↑ "Mackay Cutters announce new head coach". 3 October 2019.
  30. ↑ "Mackay Cutters announce 2022-2023 coach". QRL. 12 August 2021.
  31. ↑ The 2020 season was cancelled after Round 1 due to the COVID-19 pandemic
  32. ↑ "Archived copy". qrl.com.au. Archived from the original on 24 July 2008. Retrieved 12 January 2022.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
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