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

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

2013 squad
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

Gains
Player Signed From Until End of Notes
Joel Clinton Hull Kingston Rovers
2013
[10]
Matt Constantinou Melbourne Storm
2013
[11]
Jake Cooley Nelson Bays RU
2013
[10]
Karl Davies Melbourne Storm
2013
[10]
Delane Edwards Fremantle Roosters
2013
[12]
Michael Koko Melbourne Storm
2013
[13]
Sam Miles Emerald Tigers
2013
[10]
Dan Murphy Warwick Cowboys
2013
[14]
Jason Netherton Hull Kingston Rovers
2013
[15]
Dave Petersen Hull Kingston Rovers
2013
[14]
Chris Ulugia Parramatta Eels (mid-season)
2013
[16]
Pulou Vaituutuu Mounties RLFC
2013
[14]

Losses
Player Signed To Until End of Notes
Rohan AhernReleased
–
Lewis BalcombRetired
–
[17]
Neil BudworthRetired
–
[18]
Trevor ExtonReleased
–
Luke FatnownaRetired
–
Damon Koolstra Easts Tigers
2013
Jason Netherton Hull KR (mid-season)
2013
Grant Rovelli Souths Sharks Mackay
2013
[19]
Michael Thomas Easts Tigers
2013
Andrew WardReleased
–

Fixtures

Regular season
Date Round Opponent Venue Score Tries Goals
Saturday, 16 MarchRound 1 Northern PrideBarlow Park12 – 44Bobongie, MilneTaylor (2)
Saturday, 23 MarchRound 2 CQ CaprasVirgin Australia Stadium38 – 12Greenshields (2), Rona (2), Elisala, Faraimo, MilneFaifai Loa (5)
Sunday, 31 MarchRound 3 Wynnum Manly SeagullsBMD Kougari Oval10 – 36Faraimo, TaylorTaylor (1)
Saturday, 6 AprilRound 4 Easts TigersVirgin Australia Stadium14 – 6Morgan (2), MilneTaylor (1)
Sunday, 14 AprilRound 5 Redcliffe DolphinsDolphin Oval34 – 18Comerford, Faifai Loa, Faraimo, Hoare, RonaTaylor (5)
Saturday, 20 AprilRound 6 Norths DevilsVirgin Australia Stadium34 – 16Faraimo (2), Milne, Rona, WebsterTaylor (5)
Saturday, 27 AprilRound 7 Tweed Heads SeagullsVirgin Australia Stadium22 – 22Andrews, Elisala, Milne, RonaTaylor (3)
Round 8Bye
Saturday, 11 MayRound 9 Wynnum Manly SeagullsVirgin Australia Stadium20 – 12Faifai Loa (2), Andrews, HoareTaylor (2)
Sunday, 19 MayRound 10 Souths Logan MagpiesDavies Park22 – 23Taumalolo (3), Gesch, RonaTaylor (1)
Sunday, 26 MayRound 11 Burleigh BearsPizzey Park42 – 24Rona (2), Greenshields, Faifai Loa, Faraimo, Martin, Taylor, WebsterTaylor (5)
Sunday, 1 JuneRound 12 Ipswich JetsVirgin Australia Stadium16 – 28Rona (2), MilneTaylor (2)
Saturday, 8 JuneRound 13 Redcliffe DolphinsVirgin Australia Stadium26 – 20Grevsmuhl, Kostjasyn, Milne, RonaMinto (5)
Round 14Bye
Saturday, 23 JuneRound 15 Easts TigersLanglands Park16 – 40Milne, Rona, TaumaloloTaylor (2)
Saturday, 29 JuneRound 16 Ipswich JetsNorth Ipswich Reserve20 – 18Faifai Loa, Gesch, Minto, TaylorTaylor (2)
Saturday, 6 JulyRound 17 Northern PrideVirgin Australia Stadium26 – 16Faraimo, Hoare, Mitchell, Morgan, TaylorTaylor (2), Faifai Loa (1)
Saturday, 20 JulyRound 18 Sunshine Coast Sea EaglesMoranbah38 – 18Faraimo (2), Minto (2), Bobongie, Milne, TaylorTaylor (5)
Saturday, 27 JulyRound 19 Burleigh BearsVirgin Australia Stadium26 – 26Bobongie, Milne, Taylor, Taumalolo, UlugiaTaylor (3)
Saturday, 3 AugustRound 20 Norths DevilsGreen Energy Sports Park38 – 24Milne (3), Faraimo, Martin, Mitchell, WebsterMinto (5)
Saturday, 10 AugustRound 21 Souths Logan MagpiesVirgin Australia Stadium12 – 22Mitchell, MorganTaylor (2)
Saturday, 17 AugustRound 22 CQ CaprasBrowne Park34 – 28Faifai Loa, Faraimo, Gesch, Minto, Morgan, TaylorTaylor (5)
Sunday, 25 AugustRound 23 Tweed Heads SeagullsPiggabeen Sports Complex41 – 24Gesch, Minto, Mitchell, Morgan, Taumalolo, TaylorTaylor (6), Bobongie (1), Minto (1, 1 FG)
Saturday, 31 AugustRound 24 Sunshine Coast Sea EaglesVirgin Australia Stadium36 – 6Andrews, Faifai Loa, Faraimo, Milne, Morgan, Murphy, TaumaloloMinto (4)
Legend:   Win   Loss   Draw   Bye

Finals
Date Round Opponent Venue Score Tries Goals
Sunday, 8 SeptemberElimination Final Easts TigersVirgin Australia Stadium18 – 31Koko (2), HoareTaylor (3)
Saturday, 14 SeptemberSemi Final Ipswich JetsVirgin Australia Stadium27 – 16Faraimo (2), Faifai Loa, TaylorTaylor (3), Minto (2, 1 FG)
Sunday, 22 SeptemberPreliminary Final Northern PrideLanglands Park20 – 16Faifai Loa, Faraimo, Taumalolo, TaylorTaylor (2)
Sunday, 29 SeptemberGrand Final Easts TigersNorth Ipswich Reserve27 – 20Faraimo (2), Milne, Mitchell, MorganMilne (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
* Denotes player contracted to the North Queensland Cowboys for the 2013 season
NameTGFGPts
Tyson Andrews3--12
Jardine Bobongie31-14
Michael Comerford1--4
Alex Elisala2--8
Kalifa Faifai Loa96-48
Bureta Faraimo17--68
Chris Gesch4--16
Clint Greenshields3--12
Chris Grevsmuhl1--4
Sam Hoare4--16
Michael Koko2--8
Rory Kostjasyn1--4
Tyson Martin2--8
David Milne161-66
Matt Minto518359
Anthony Mitchell5--20
Michael Morgan8--32
Dan Murphy1--4
Curtis Rona12--48
Jason Taumalolo8--32
Liam Taylor1163-170
Chris Ulugia1--4
Dean Webster3--12
Totals122893669

Honours

Club
  • 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
  1. "Cutters name Bobongie, Clinton co-captains". www.abc.net.au. 29 January 2013.
  2. "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. "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. "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.
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