Thursday, August 24, 2023

Issue:

Mackay and Whitsunday Life

Cooper Elliott Follows Father’s Footsteps In Rugby League

Dave Elliott is regarded as one of the finest rugby league coaches in Queensland and a major career influence  - now his 12 year old son, Cooper, is ready to carve a niche in the sport he covets.

It has been a season to savour for the Mercy College Year 7 student who achieved success with the Magpies club during the 2022 Mackay and District Junior League competition.

The powerful young prop was a lynchpin for the Magpies as they skittled the previously undefeated Proserpine Brahmans 28-0 in the Grand Final to bring home the Under 13s premiership trophy.

Cooper’s rampaging runs, clever off loads and bone jarring defence were a feature of the Magpies’ impressive finals charge and subsequent title triumph in his debut season with the club.

The proudest man at the Mackay and District Junior League Fields that day was Cooper’s dad – Dave Elliott – the outgoing Mackay Cutters Rugby League Head Coach who will take over the first grade coaching reins at Brisbane Norths Devils for the 2023 and 2024 seasons.

Young Cooper attributed his strong end-of-season form to the extra coaching he received from his father throughout his first year of competitive league.

“When the Cutters were training at BB Print Stadium I would tag along and dad would put me through my paces and teach me the finer points of forward play,” explained Cooper.

“I also received good tips from my Magpies coach Michael Muscat and just grew in confidence as the competition unfolded.”

Cooper will complete his Year 7 studies in Mackay before the family relocates to Brisbane at the end of the school term.

The promising forward – who turns 13 in December – will play for either the Norths Devils or Aspley Devils in the Brisbane Junior Rugby League competition next season.

Contributed with thanks to Chris Karas.

Image:  

1: Newly appointed Norths Devils Head Coach and outgoing Mackay Cutters mentor Dave Elliott congratulates his son Cooper Elliott after the Magpies Under 13 premiership triumph at the Mackay and District Junior League Grand Finals. Photo contributed

2: Promising Magpies prop Cooper Elliott stamped himself as one of the best young forwards in the Mackay district this season

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