They are valued rugby league ambassadors and exceptional role models that share a connection to one of the Mackay region’s finest sporting organisations.
Meet Mercy College and St Patrick’s College staff members Michael Comerford, Brandon Finnegan, Blake Paskins, Ethan Roberts, Patrick Hoare, Jake Riley and Chad Buckby who are fully entrenched in the Mackay Cutters Rugby League Club ranks.
All seven play a significant role in the development of rugby league at both secondary schools that will co-host this year’s annual CQUniversity Confraternity Rugby League and QISSN Netball Carnivals in Mackay from June 26 to July 1.
Finnegan is the Cutters’ half back maestro and chief playmaker and is joined in the first-grade line up by bustling centre Paskins and elusive winger Riley.
Comerford and Buckby are the respective Mercy College and St Patrick’s College Sports Co-ordinators and double up as Assistant Coaches of the Cutters’ top-grade squad.
Roberts, a utility hooker-cum-winger, and rangy prop Hoare are key members of the Cutters’ U/21 team with ties to the Brothers Leprechauns.
CONFRO convenor and Mercy College Assistant Principal Curriculum Scott McSherry said the seven staff members were assets to the school and highly regarded in the Mackay sporting community.
“As well as being top athletes and officials in their own right, they give so much back as mentors to the students by educating them on the finer points of the game,” said Mr McSherry.
Finnegan, Paskins and Riley starred in the Cutters’ 28-18 victory over the Townsville Blackhawks last Saturday in a QRL Hostplus Cup fixture at Jack Manski Oval, Townsville.
Paskins (2) and Riley scored three of the Cutters’ six tries with the skilful Finnegan booting two goals and marshalling his side to their fourth win of the season.
Comerford, a former Australian Universities representative centre, will coach a powerful St Patrick’s First XIII at this year’s CQUniversity Confraternity Shield Rugby League Carnival.
The well-drilled St Patrick’s outfit remains one of the main contenders for the 2022 title when the Carnival commences in Mackay from Sunday June 26.
With the knowledgeable Comerford at the helm, the team will pit their rugby league skills and durability against the best secondary schoolboy players throughout Queensland.
The Mercy College Sports Coordinator enjoyed a burgeoning league career in the north Queensland region before a damaged ACL forced him into retirement at the age of 24.
Comerford began his league career with Souths Sharks in U/13s as a promising centre before bursting into A Grade in 2006.
He played a prominent role when Souths defeated Moranbah to win the 2009 Mercury Cup Grand Final after earning a call up to the Mackay Cutters top grade side the previous year.
Comerford chalked up 51 appearances during his six-season playing stint with the Cutters but missed the club’s 2013 premiership triumph after tearing his ACL in the early rounds.
A highlight for Comerford was representing Australia at the 2008 World Universities Cup in Brisbane and touring South Africa (2009) as well as France and England (2010) with the national team.
Since hanging up his boots, Michael has turned his hand to coaching.
In 2015 he was appointed Souths A Grade coach at the age of 26 – guiding the side to a preliminary final where they were eliminated by minor premiers Sarina Crocodiles.
He joined the Cutters’ coaching panel in 2017 and has mentored the U/21s and Brothers A Grade last season before being named Mackay’s Assistant Coach for 2022.
From the golden beaches in Sydney’s Sutherland Shire to the tropical Mackay-Whitsunday region in Queensland – that has been the journey for skilful half back Finnegan.
A Cronulla junior product, Finnegan played ten seasons with De La Salle Caringbah before representing the Sharks in S.G Ball Cup (Under 18s) and the U/20s Holden Cup alongside NRL young guns Kyle Flanagan and hooker Blayke Brailey.
He later played for Mounties and Cabramatta in the NSWRL Jersey Flegg Cup and Ron Massey Cup competitions before a stint with Newtown in the NSW State Cup.
When COVID-19 forced the cancellation of lower grade competitions in 2020, Brandon spent a season with Southern Districts in NSW Shute Shield Rugby before making the move to Mackay last year.
Blake Paskins can be tagged a “late bloomer” after graduating from the Souths Sharks junior ranks.
A cousin of former Kangaroos international winger Brett Dallas, the towering centre played for Souths from the age of six where he blossomed into a capable colt by his mid-teens under the tutelage of legendary coach Doug Knight.
Paskins was only 16 when he helped the Sharks win the U/18s premiership with current South Sydney centre Isaiah Tass as a teammate.
Blake won two U/19 premierships with Brothers before linking with the Cutters and establishing himself in the top-grade last season.
Speedster Jake Riley played his junior football with the Western Lions in Townsville from the age of eight and was half back in the club’s U/15 premiership victory.
A fleet-footed utility, Riley played U/20s with the Townsville Blackhawks before joining the Cutters last season and leaving his mark as a centre, winger and fullback.
St Pat’s Open Payne Cup Campaign With Flyer
Meanwhile St Patrick’s College opened their 2022 Aaron Payne Cup campaign with a resounding 36-4 victory over Mackay State High at the Mackay Junior Rugby League Fields last week.
Powerful second rower Pat Vella capped an outstanding game with two tries and was ably supported by clever half back Jaxson Purdue, tireless lock Henry Thorpe and talented fullback Will Shears.
Mercy College Year 10s thumped Mackay State High 38-0 in the opening round of the Cowboys Challenge while Tom Gaviglio’s Year 8s outclassed Mackay State High 44-0 in a Division One final with strong games from fullback Calvin Ramos, half back Miles Kerrisk, lock Eli Cookson and centre Cooper Anderson.
By Chris Karas
Mercy College and St Patrick’s College staff members Blake Paskins, Brandon Finnegan, Jake Riley, Michael Comerford and Patrick Hoare are key personnel with the Mackay Cutters
The St Patrick's Open Boys squad trained with the Cowboys Challenge Year 10 squad from Mercy College at the Mercy College Open Day
