North Queensland Cowboys Recharge In Mackay: Inside Fitness Cartel’s Elite Wellness Centre

Blue and yellow jerseys filled the Fitness Cartel Wellness Centre in Mackay last Thursday as the North Queensland Cowboys turned their focus to recovery ahead of their highly anticipated trial clash with Penrith.

Preparation was key as 24 squad members made the trip to Mackay, reflecting the club’s investment in the region and its local talent. Mackay-born Co-captains Tom Dearden and Reuben Cotter, together with fan favourite Jaxon Purdue, proudly represented their hometown throughout the match.

Head of Performance Paul Bowman reinforced Mackay’s significance within the Cowboys’ footprint.

“Mackay is a big part of our catchment and our region. We obviously have a close relationship with the Cutters being one of our feeder clubs, so it’s always great to get down here and see our fans.”

With many supporters regularly making the trip to Townsville, bringing a game to Mackay made the occasion all the more special.

“To play a game here is great,” said Mr Bowman.

And the facilities themselves drew particular praise.

“To have a facility like Fitness Cartel and what they have here for us to use is really great. For a regional town like Mackay to have a facility like this – it’s just tremendous.”

Inside the Wellness Centre, recovery was front and centre. Players rotated through compression boots, a traditional hot rock sauna and contrast therapy pools, alternating between hot and cold to support circulation and muscle repair in preparation for game night.

For fitness industry professional and facility owner Michael James, hosting the Cowboys marked a proud milestone.

“It’s awesome for Mackay and sports lovers in general to have the Cowboys here. People often travel hours to watch their games, so for the Cowboys to come to Mackay, it’s pretty special.”

He said the feedback from the squad affirmed the vision behind the Wellness Centre, along with Fitness Cartel as a whole.

“We think we’ve got a world-class facility suitable for world-class athletes, and to get that feedback from the Cowboys, to know it was everything we hoped, that’s extremely validating.”

The goal, Mr James explained, was always to raise the benchmark locally.

“At Fitness Cartel, we aim to be a place where current and emerging athletes can train hard, then step into our Wellness Centre to recover, rejuvenate, and get ready to perform at their very best.”

“Our goal was always to bring something world-class to Mackay… and to hear athletes who’ve trained in the best facilities around the world say ours is up there – it’s definitely a proud moment.”

Just over twenty-four hours later, that preparation paid off. On Friday, 13 February, at BB Print Stadium, the Cowboys delivered a commanding 66–24 victory over Penrith, thrilling the crowd and capping a week defined by preparation, teamwork, and North Queensland pride.