Cutters Pre-Season Kicks On

The Mackay Cutters clambered aboard the squad bus last weekend for a five-hour trip down to Rockhampton, set for their first Hostplus Cup pre season friendly against CQ Capras on Saturday night.

Their first official outing was a tight affair, with Capras clinching it in the end 22-18 in what head coach David Elliott said was always going to be a “scrappy one.”

“We got what we needed out of the game and saw a lot of our players play that we hadn’t had the opportunity to,” Elliott said.

“The lads tried really hard; effort was what we were after and we got that, which is a good sign there with a couple blokes doing really well on the effort front.

“First game, guys are always just excited to play well and show what they can bring to the team.”

The traveling squad comprised Brenton Baira, Brett Kelly, Hayden Brownsey, Kyle Kennedy, Ewan Coutts, Jack Kavanagh, Harry Freebairn, Sean Mullany, Mitch Fogarty, Jayden Morgan, Brandon Finnegan, Blake Paskins, Sam Fa’apito, Zac Patch, Tyler Holmes, Hiale Roycroft, Jake Hawkins, Tom Sly, Tom Irelandes, Henri Stocks, Luke Ingram, Matt Vessey and Luke Webley.

Of those, the fresh faces of front rower Luke Ingram, Zach Patch, and Jack Kavanagh made their debuts in Cutters kits to a fantastic Rockhampton crowd at Browne Park.

Elliott said that their recent additions had been set to join up with the squad earlier in preseason, but were held back due to border closures, meaning they were unable to start until after Christmas.

“They’ve had it pretty well interrupted during that time, especially with a number of them who have had COVID after the border openings,” Elliott said.

“For those guys, it’s been interrupted and they’re still a bit under done, but we’re only just now playing trials, so we’re still in the thick of preseason.”

It’s been back to the grind for the Cutters over the week, with fitness a key talking point for coaching staff at the club. Elliott wasn’t too worried though, believing that nervous jitters can get the best of even the fittest of any squad.

“Some of them would have been nervous just because they want to play well and that nervous energy gets to you,” he said.

“We’re aiming for a much better performance this weekend with a big crowd.”

The next round for the Cutters is at BB Print, where local lads like Brenton Baira, a long-time servant of the club who’s made his way all the way to the very top are hoping to impress a home crowd. They’ll face off against the Cowboys Young Guns, “a good test” Elliott said.

“I’m still feeling good [about the upcoming match] - It’s not a competition game, but anytime we get to play at home, I know the boys are always keen for that,” he said.

“We are all keen to play at home, and the Young Guns will be out to impress again, having played a few games in a row now.

“It’ll be a good opportunity for us to show the Mackay Crowd what we’re about this year.”

The Cutters kick off at 5:30pm on Saturday 26 after the Cowboys V Broncos Pre-season trial.

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