Club in nod to past with eye on future
THE triumphs and turmoil of one of FNQ Rugby’s oldest clubs will be celebrated this season with JCU Mariners marking 40 years of rugby in Smithfield with a series of events throughout 2018.
In a nod to their rich history, the Mariners, a product of a merger between Teachers Smithfield and University, will cast aside their trademark redand-black hoops, instead donning the colours of the defunct clubs for a match in July.
But head coach and club stalwart Alan “Doc” McMahon said lingering tension following the amalgamation meant it took years before the club could establish its own identity.
“As you can imagine, there were two rival clubs with people very loyal to their colours,” McMahon said. “There was a lag period where players dropped off but after we won our second reserve-grade premiership in 2004, I think we never looked back.”
The Mariners broke through the following year to win their maiden A-grade premiership, breaking Brothers’ five-year stranglehold on the competition in the process.
“They had almost every Cairns representative player in their side that year,” McMahon said. “They’d beaten a lot of other regional rep teams.
“It’s one of my proudest moments and it really helped us on our way.”
Since then, McMahon, 71, McGregor Rd home ground. Senior team to wear Teachers Smithfield traditional strip (maroon and sky blue hoops). Reserves to wear University colours (purple and green hoops *Opponent yet to be named has become the club’s unassuming patriarch, who boasted the youngest A-grade team in the competition last year.
“Coaching energises me and gives me purpose,” McMahon said. “I love the sport but it’s really about the quality of the young men we have.
“These young men take me back to my youth with their willingness to learn not just about the game but life, too.”
Club president David Norton said McMahon had helped foster a family environment within the club.
“I guess what we’ve tried to do over the years is instil in the young boys the culture we want and then help them carry it on,” Norton said.
With as many as six new players likely to push for senior selection, the Mariners believe they have the personnel to push for a premiership in their anniversary year.
“That’s our aspiration,” McMahon said. “Especially because it is our 40th year that gives us extra motivation.
“We’ll be praying to the rugby gods. It would certainly be a fairytale, that’s for sure.”
COACHING ENERGISES ME AND GIVES ME PURPOSE. I LOVE THE SPORT BUT IT’S REALLY ABOUT THE QUALITY OF THE YOUNG MEN WE HAVE