https://www.dailymercury.com.au/news/positive-mind-key-for-cotter/3680526/
RUGBY LEAGUE: A tumultuous battle with injuries has done little to deter Reuben Cotter's pursuit of NRL honours. Back-to-back tears to his left ACL threatened to derail the hooker's promising career. However, the determined Mackay-bred talent has risen to become an integral component of the Cutters' line-up. Cotter never imagined his return to rugby league would have happened this quickly. However, he is now an allocated player with the North Queensland Cowboys, and said a positive mindset had gone a long way. "Injuries are always going to be hard, and it's even harder when you're out of the game for so long,” Cotter said. "A lot changes in that time, but the club here and the Cowboys have been looking after me for three years.”
0 Comments
https://www.dailymercury.com.au/news/semi-final-last-barrier-to-magpies-dream/3680508/
CRICKET: After falling out of love with the game, Magpies skipper Brant Attard has been rejuvenated by his young charges. He spent a year away from cricket believing he had achieved all he wanted to with the bat. Now, surrounded by an energetic group and a passionate coaching staff, Attard said he had rediscovered his passion on the pitch. He was enticed to Magpies by club president Brad Zurvas to guide a young team in need of an experienced leader. The collaboration has been a master-stroke, and Magpies' win over defending premiers Norths at the weekend has them dreaming of premiership glory. https://www.dailymercury.com.au/news/rising-stars-meteoric-rise-for-under-16s/3673696/
BASKETBALL: It was an inspiring comeback in Townsville for Mackay's young basketball champions. The Meteorettes' under-16 side clashed with their Townsville's counterparts last Sunday at the Queensland North Junior Basketball Championships, with a gold medal on the line. Down by 14 points at the end of the first quarter and still trailing at half-time, the girls rallied to get the win. Starving off their fancied rivals, they secured a dramatic 19-point victory. Point guard Paris Santacaterina has been a part of junior representative teams since she was nine-years-old. It has taken a relentless worth ethic to achieve such lofty heights. However standing alongside her passionate team-mates, she said Sunday's triumph was the sweetest moment of her blossoming career. https://www.dailymercury.com.au/news/journey-to-gold-for-mackay-wheelchair-rugby-star/3675204/
WHEELCHAIR RUGBY: A triumphant showing at the Ken Sowden Cup has Joshua Nicholson dreaming of greater heights. The Australian Steeler shone in the five-match series against New Zealand, as his side romped to a cleansweep victory in Melbourne at the weekend. The former Slade Point resident has been a force in the representative arena, compiling almost 40 Australian caps in wheelchair rugby and garnering gold medal honours for Queensland on the basketball court. Now his ambitions are set on competing in his first Paralympic Games in Tokyo next year. "My goal is to get to the Paralympics, so everything I do is leading up to that,” Nicholson said. "I think ever since I realised I could do it, it has been my goal. It would be incredible; it would be everything I've worked towards paying off.” https://www.dailymercury.com.au/news/move-pays-off-lock-forward-a-beast/3680520/
RUGBY LEAGUE: For three years 'Pup' tried in vain to lure the "beast” to Mackay. Now it's reaping rich rewards. Cutters coach Steve 'Pup' Sheppard mentored the passionate Jordan Kenworthy in the Cowboys under 20s system, and saw the wealth of potential in the hard-hitting forward. Knee injuries and a rugby league career in Townsville halted Kenworthy's burgeoning relationship with Sheppard, until the lock signed with Mackay this season. Kenworthy played like a man possessed in Saturday night's 42-20 win over the Central Queensland Capras - the first victory for the Cutters this season. His brace of tries at BB Print Stadium stole the show in the Rivalry Round clash, and his defence packed a punch with every tackle. https://www.dailymercury.com.au/news/new-a-grade-coach-shakes-up-city-hawks/3668176/
AFL: It wasn't a career path she originally anticipated, however a passion for harnessing prodigious talent has led to success for Jennifer Ritchie. A pioneer for women's football in Mackay, she has assumed the role of assistant coach in the Mackay City Hawks men's senior side, and in doing so became the first woman to take on a men's senior coaching position with the club. It highlights the rise of the women's game in the region, and she hopes to continue this progression and pave the way for more women to take the leap into the coaching set up. "It takes one person to break that barrier, and I'm happy to be that person, but I think there's plenty of opportunities for females in coaching roles and it's good having diversity in the coaching team,” Ritchie said. "We think and do things differently, so it's good to be able to mix things up. "Even at a local level we're starting to see some of the rewards, people can see pathways so even in the local competitions in Mackay you can see the skill level is getting better.” https://www.dailymercury.com.au/news/young-squash-talent-eyes-australian-open/3668025/
Squash: A rapid ascension through the ranks has rising squash star, Wes Dyer, primed for success. The 16-year-old has been a fierce competitor on the court, and will be taking his talents to the Australian Junior Open in April. The swashbuckling athlete was on display at a Squash 52 members tournament on Saturday, going in as the No. 2 seed behind venue owner, Ben Courtice. In a dramatic final, the young dynamo staved off Courtice's challenge - claiming the deciding game 15-12. Dyer is already playing in under 19's divisions, in a testament to his blossoming ability. He will gear up for the Open in a Q Squash North Queensland selection tournament in Townsville this weekend. The tournament will determine who goes into the North Queensland team for this year's Queensland State championships. However this pressure is nothing new to the emerging star. https://www.dailymercury.com.au/news/intrust-super-cup-round-one-injury-setback-for-key/3668192/
RUGBY LEAGUE: It was a sorry sight to behold when Mackay Cutters fullback Carlin Anderson was stretchered from the field on Saturday. The enigmatic custodian suffered a severe concussion, and a break in his back, late in his side's 24-12 loss to Easts Tigers in round one of the Intrust Super Cup. Cutters coach Steve Sheppard has options at his disposal to fill the No. 1 jumper, with Pauli Byrnes and Yamba Bowie to contest for the spot. While Sheppard is confident he has the troops to capably fill Anderson's void, the dynamic fullback will be missed. "When Carlin went down hurt, it disappointed the group a fair bit because it wasn't really pretty,” he said. "He was lucky to get on the plane this morning, but he's back in Townsville ... so he'll see the Cowboys staff during the week to get more of an indication of how long he's going to be.” https://www.dailymercury.com.au/news/success-on-the-road-covering-flaws/3664991/
FOOTBALL: Complacency won't go unpunished for long, a fact not lost on Magpies Crusaders United coach Chris Gallo. Despite claiming a 4-2 win against South West Queensland Thunder at the weekend, Gallo lamented his side's attitude against a team reeling with 10 men for much of the match. It was an important lesson to learn, the new mentor said, especially early in the season. MCU's upcoming clash against a winless Redlands United outfit would be a good test for their mental fortitude, Gallo said. The opposition would be ready to counter at all times, and the match-up would determine whether his troops had learnt from their mistakes. "Like I said to the players the other night, the season can be as loud or as quiet as they want to make it, but they've got to be prepared to put in the work for it,” Gallo said. "I thought the second half wasn't the best and I thought the first half was poor as well. The quietness after the game was enormous, no music on in the change rooms ... it was dead quiet. "But we need to continue to learn from these lessons and not let it go by. This weekend will be a great test mentally for them.” https://www.dailymercury.com.au/news/squads-revealed-foley-shield-preparations-begin/3664988/
RUGBY LEAGUE: Sitting out of the game for 18 months has done little to quell Jolie Lock's thirst for success. After taking a break to meet university commitments, her impressive pre-season form has earned selection in the women's Foley Shield squad. She shone in the City-Country fixture played prior to the NRL trial match on Saturday, and while the young hooker appreciates she is coming into an experienced side, she said just making the squad was an exciting milestone. "I'll play wherever I'm put, but I know there's a lot more experience in that position with other girls who have made the squad as well,” Lock said. "Football in general for me, right from when I started playing when I was 14, has built me as a person. It has helped me gain a lot more confidence in life, let alone on the football field.” |
AuthorSelection of sport content. I was regularly called upon to assist with sport in the abscence of other staff. Archives
November 2019
Categories |