Mackay Cutters Hooker Kyle Schneider has re-signed with the club following a terrific 2022 season that led to his representative debut for Scotland in the Rugby League World Cup.
Eligible through the Scottish heritage of his grandparents, Kyle donned the dark blue jersey for the first time in October, making three appearances throughout the tournament and finishing the World Cup with an 80-minute performance against Fiji.
“It let me play my style of footy with myself generally being an 80-minute hooker and will definitely be something I can bring back to the Hostplus Cup this season and build on,” Kyle said.
Kyle said the highlight of the tournament came when Scotland came up against Australia.
“You grow up watching a few of these players for a number of years, but to be out there playing against them tops it for me,” he said.
The opportunity to play for his country allowed Kyle to grow on a professional and personal level.
“On a trip like this you tend to learn quite a bit about yourself, whether it’s how to make sure you can put your best foot forward in a different setting each week or what you need to do to continue to build and better yourself as a player,” he said.
“It’s quite tough initially coming into a new setting with boys from all over, but all the players were open and inviting which made it easy for us all to be quite close off the field.
“The results didn’t pan out how we wanted them but for us to pull together and put in a solid effort against Fiji in the last game I think reflects that.
“We had a good bunch of blokes around camp, and it was an honour to be able to represent my heritage and my family on a world stage.”
Kyle is one on many players the Mackay Cutters have retained for the 2023 season including Ross Bella, Sean Mullany, Blake Paskins, Kyle Krasinski-Kennedy, Flynn Camilleri, Brandon Finnegan, Matthew Vessey, Henri Stocks, Jake Riley, Jack Hoffman and Isaiah Cooper-Tetevano with the club also announcing new recruits Logen Dillon and Jacob Schill.
Cutters Hooker Kyle Schneider debuted for Scotland at the Rugby League World Cup in October
