2013 Mackay Cutters season

The 2013 Mackay Cutters season was the sixth in the club's history. Coached by Kim Williams and captained by Jardine Bobongie and Joel Clinton, they competed in the QRL's Intrust Super Cup.[1] The club enjoyed their most successful season, finishing the regular season in second place and defeating the Easts Tigers 27–20 in the Grand Final to win their first premiership.[2]

2013 Mackay Cutters season
Queensland Cup Rank2nd
Play-off resultPremiers
2013 recordWins: 14; draws: 2; losses: 6
Points scoredFor: 577; against: 483
Team information
CEOGlenn Ottaway
CoachKim Williams
Captain
StadiumVirgin Australia Stadium
Top scorers
TriesBureta Faraimo (17)
GoalsLiam Taylor (63)
PointsLiam Taylor (170)
← 2012 2014 →

Season summary

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After the departure of head coach Anthony Seibold at the end of 2012, the Cutters hired former Melbourne Storm SG Ball Cup coach Kim Williams as his replacement.[3] The club's biggest off-season recruit was former Australian international and NRL premiership winning-prop Joel Clinton, who was returning to Australia after three seasons with Hull Kingston Rovers.[4] He was named co-captain of the club, alongside veteran Jardine Bobongie.

On 28 April 2013, just hours after a 22–22 draw with the Tweed Heads Seagulls, North Queensland Cowboys contracted hooker Alex Elisala was found unconscious and not breathing after jumping from a hotel balcony. He died in hospital the following day.[5] In honour of Elisala, the Cutters retired his number 14 jersey for the rest of the season.[6] Despite the tragedy, the Cutters pushed forward and finished the season in second on the ladder, their highest ever finish (as of the 2019 season).[7] In Week 1 of the finals, they suffered a 18–31 loss to the Easts Tigers before bouncing back to defeat the Ipswich Jets and Northern Pride to qualify for their first Grand Final and set up a rematch with the Tigers.[8]

On 28 September 2013, the Cutters defeated Easts 27–20 in the Grand Final at North Ipswich Reserve to claim their maiden Queensland Cup premiership.[2] Prop Tyson Andrews was named the club's Player of the Year, while Cowboys contracted players, Sam Hoare and Curtis Rona, were selected for the Queensland Residents side.[9]

Squad List

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2013 squad

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Mackay Cutters
First team squad Coaching staff
  • Tyson Andrews PR
  • Jardine Bobongie (c)LK
  • Jack Clark SR
  • Joel Clinton (c)PR
  • Michael Comerford CE
  • Matt Constantinou PR
  • Jake Cooley PR
  • Zac Dalton PR
  • Karl Davies PR
  • Delane Edwards FE
  • Aaron Fairweather CE

Head coach

  • Kim Williams



Legend:
  • (c) Captain(s)
  • (vc) Vice-captain(s)



The following players contracted to the North Queensland Cowboys played for the Cutters in 2013: Alex Elisala, Kalifa Faifai Loa, Clint Greenshields, Chris Grevsmuhl, Sam Hoare, Rory Kostjasyn, Tyson Martin, Anthony Mitchell, Michael Morgan, Curtis Rona, Zac Santo, Tariq Sims and Jason Taumalolo.

Squad movement

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Gains

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Player Signed From Until End of Notes
Joel Clinton   Hull Kingston Rovers
2013
Matt Constantinou   Melbourne Storm
2013
Jake Cooley   Nelson Bays RU
2013
Karl Davies   Melbourne Storm
2013
Delane Edwards   Fremantle Roosters
2013
Michael Koko   Melbourne Storm
2013
Sam Miles   Emerald Tigers
2013
Dan Murphy   Warwick Cowboys
2013
Jason Netherton   Hull Kingston Rovers
2013
Dave Petersen   Hull Kingston Rovers
2013
Chris Ulugia   Parramatta Eels (mid-season)
2013
Pulou Vaituutuu   Mounties RLFC
2013

Losses

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Player Signed To Until End of Notes
Rohan Ahern Released
Lewis Balcomb Retired
Neil Budworth Retired
Trevor Exton Released
Luke Fatnowna Retired
Damon Koolstra   Easts Tigers
2013
Jason Netherton   Hull KR (mid-season)
2013
Grant Rovelli   Souths Sharks Mackay
2013
Michael Thomas   Easts Tigers
2013
Andrew Ward Released

Fixtures

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Regular season

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Date Round Opponent Venue Score Tries Goals
Saturday, 16 March Round 1   Northern Pride Barlow Park 12 – 44 Bobongie, Milne Taylor (2)
Saturday, 23 March Round 2   CQ Capras Virgin Australia Stadium 38 – 12 Greenshields (2), Rona (2), Elisala, Faraimo, Milne Faifai Loa (5)
Sunday, 31 March Round 3   Wynnum Manly Seagulls BMD Kougari Oval 10 – 36 Faraimo, Taylor Taylor (1)
Saturday, 6 April Round 4   Easts Tigers Virgin Australia Stadium 14 – 6 Morgan (2), Milne Taylor (1)
Sunday, 14 April Round 5   Redcliffe Dolphins Dolphin Oval 34 – 18 Comerford, Faifai Loa, Faraimo, Hoare, Rona Taylor (5)
Saturday, 20 April Round 6   Norths Devils Virgin Australia Stadium 34 – 16 Faraimo (2), Milne, Rona, Webster Taylor (5)
Saturday, 27 April Round 7   Tweed Heads Seagulls Virgin Australia Stadium 22 – 22 Andrews, Elisala, Milne, Rona Taylor (3)
Round 8 Bye
Saturday, 11 May Round 9   Wynnum Manly Seagulls Virgin Australia Stadium 20 – 12 Faifai Loa (2), Andrews, Hoare Taylor (2)
Sunday, 19 May Round 10   Souths Logan Magpies Davies Park 22 – 23 Taumalolo (3), Gesch, Rona Taylor (1)
Sunday, 26 May Round 11   Burleigh Bears Pizzey Park 42 – 24 Rona (2), Greenshields, Faifai Loa, Faraimo, Martin, Taylor, Webster Taylor (5)
Sunday, 1 June Round 12   Ipswich Jets Virgin Australia Stadium 16 – 28 Rona (2), Milne Taylor (2)
Saturday, 8 June Round 13   Redcliffe Dolphins Virgin Australia Stadium 26 – 20 Grevsmuhl, Kostjasyn, Milne, Rona Minto (5)
Round 14 Bye
Saturday, 23 June Round 15   Easts Tigers Langlands Park 16 – 40 Milne, Rona, Taumalolo Taylor (2)
Saturday, 29 June Round 16   Ipswich Jets North Ipswich Reserve 20 – 18 Faifai Loa, Gesch, Minto, Taylor Taylor (2)
Saturday, 6 July Round 17   Northern Pride Virgin Australia Stadium 26 – 16 Faraimo, Hoare, Mitchell, Morgan, Taylor Taylor (2), Faifai Loa (1)
Saturday, 20 July Round 18   Sunshine Coast Sea Eagles Moranbah 38 – 18 Faraimo (2), Minto (2), Bobongie, Milne, Taylor Taylor (5)
Saturday, 27 July Round 19   Burleigh Bears Virgin Australia Stadium 26 – 26 Bobongie, Milne, Taylor, Taumalolo, Ulugia Taylor (3)
Saturday, 3 August Round 20   Norths Devils Green Energy Sports Park 38 – 24 Milne (3), Faraimo, Martin, Mitchell, Webster Minto (5)
Saturday, 10 August Round 21   Souths Logan Magpies Virgin Australia Stadium 12 – 22 Mitchell, Morgan Taylor (2)
Saturday, 17 August Round 22   CQ Capras Browne Park 34 – 28 Faifai Loa, Faraimo, Gesch, Minto, Morgan, Taylor Taylor (5)
Sunday, 25 August Round 23   Tweed Heads Seagulls Piggabeen Sports Complex 41 – 24 Gesch, Minto, Mitchell, Morgan, Taumalolo, Taylor Taylor (6), Bobongie (1), Minto (1, 1 FG)
Saturday, 31 August Round 24   Sunshine Coast Sea Eagles Virgin Australia Stadium 36 – 6 Andrews, Faifai Loa, Faraimo, Milne, Morgan, Murphy, Taumalolo Minto (4)
Legend:   Win   Loss   Draw   Bye

Finals

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Date Round Opponent Venue Score Tries Goals
Sunday, 8 September Elimination Final   Easts Tigers Virgin Australia Stadium 18 – 31 Koko (2), Hoare Taylor (3)
Saturday, 14 September Semi Final   Ipswich Jets Virgin Australia Stadium 27 – 16 Faraimo (2), Faifai Loa, Taylor Taylor (3), Minto (2, 1 FG)
Sunday, 22 September Preliminary Final   Northern Pride Langlands Park 20 – 16 Faifai Loa, Faraimo, Taumalolo, Taylor Taylor (2)
Sunday, 29 September Grand Final   Easts Tigers North Ipswich Reserve 27 – 20 Faraimo (2), Milne, Mitchell, Morgan Milne (1), Minto (1, 1 FG), Taylor (1)
Legend:   Win   Loss   Draw   Bye


Mackay Cutters' Grand Final winning side: 1 Liam Taylor, 2 Bureta Faraimo, 15 Michael Morgan, 4 Kalifa Faifai Loa, 5 David Milne, 6 Dan Murphy, 7 Matt Minto, 8 Tyson Andrews, 9 Anthony Mitchell, 10 Sam Hoare, 17 Jason Taumalolo, 12 Chris Gesch, 13 Jardine Bobongie (c). Interchange: 11 Dean Webster, 16 Karl Davies, 18 Kelvin Nielsen, 20 Jason Schirnack. Coach: Kim Williams.[20]

Statistics

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* Denotes player contracted to the North Queensland Cowboys for the 2013 season
Name T G FG Pts
Tyson Andrews 3 - - 12
Jardine Bobongie 3 1 - 14
Michael Comerford 1 - - 4
Alex Elisala 2 - - 8
Kalifa Faifai Loa 9 6 - 48
Bureta Faraimo 17 - - 68
Chris Gesch 4 - - 16
Clint Greenshields 3 - - 12
Chris Grevsmuhl 1 - - 4
Sam Hoare 4 - - 16
Michael Koko 2 - - 8
Rory Kostjasyn 1 - - 4
Tyson Martin 2 - - 8
David Milne 16 1 - 66
Matt Minto 5 18 3 59
Anthony Mitchell 5 - - 20
Michael Morgan 8 - - 32
Dan Murphy 1 - - 4
Curtis Rona 12 - - 48
Jason Taumalolo 8 - - 32
Liam Taylor 11 63 - 170
Chris Ulugia 1 - - 4
Dean Webster 3 - - 12
Totals 122 89 3 669

Honours

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Club

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  • Player of the Year: Tyson Andrews
  • Players' Player: Bureta Faraimo
  • Sponsor's Player of the Year: Jardine Bobongie
  • Rookie of the Year: Karl Davies
  • Club Person of the Year: Chris Fraser

References

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  1. ^ "Cutters name Bobongie, Clinton co-captains". www.abc.net.au. 29 January 2013.
  2. ^ a b "Cutters make history with grand final win". Daily Mercury.
  3. ^ "Praise for signing Kim Williams". Daily Mercury.
  4. ^ "Cutters shaping roster". Dalby Herald.
  5. ^ "Young Cowboy dies in hospital". ABC. 29 April 2013. Retrieved 11 April 2017.
  6. ^ Davy, Andrea. "Friends talk about the loss of good mate, Alex Elisala". Daily Mercury.
  7. ^ "Cutters secure home semi-final". www.abc.net.au. 26 August 2013.
  8. ^ Burgin, Robert (23 September 2013). "Cutters to meet Tigers in state final". The North West Star.
  9. ^ "XXXX Queensland Residents team". Queensland Rugby League. 11 July 2013.
  10. ^ a b c d "Cutters shaping roster". The Courier Mail. 10 October 2012. Retrieved 19 March 2023.
  11. ^ "Cutters recruit Matt Constantinou boosts Tigers' ranks". Sunshine Coast Daily.
  12. ^ "Cyclone, premiership a season to remember". Daily Mercury.
  13. ^ "Kiwi Koko keen to be a Cutter". Daily Mercury.
  14. ^ a b c "Cutters begin pre-season training". Queensland Times.
  15. ^ "Super signing set to play". Daily Mercury.
  16. ^ "Debutant Ulugia hoping to cement spot with the Cutters". Daily Mercury.
  17. ^ "English players will build up the Cutters pack". Northern Star.
  18. ^ "English players will build up the Cutters pack". Morning Bulletin.
  19. ^ "Rovelli inspires Souths to title". Daily Mercury.
  20. ^ "Grand Final teams: Intrust Super Cup & FOGS". Queensland Rugby League. 24 September 2013.