Mentor weighs future

HE HAS laid the foundations for a breakthrough QAFL flag but Broadbeach coach Brett Andrews may not get the chance to savour the Cats’ future success.

After 3½ seasons at the helm, a “disappointed” Andrews on Saturday told the Bulletin he was unlikely to continue next year but would take the next few weeks before making a decision.

Having taken the reins in mid-2015 following the departure of Wayne Petterd, Andrews steered the Cats to the brink of their first premiership since 1996 before falling 14.16 (100) to 9.12 (66) to Palm Beach Currumbin in Saturday’s grand final.

Speaking post-game, dual premiership-winning Lions coach Chad Owens said he could see the similarities between his 2016 side and the current crop of Cats.

While the sentiment was appreciated by Andrews, he said the prospect of 2019 glory was unlikely to influence decisions regarding his coaching future.

“I think the group probably will be (hungrier next year). I don’t think I’ll go on but we’ll just see how it goes,” Andrews, who co-captained the Cats’ last premiership side 22 years ago, said.

“I was fairly disappointed in our performance (on Saturday). I thought we started pretty well and just in the second quarter we kicked four or five points or something.

“We didn’t take our chances, they kicked a couple and I

thought we were still in the game at halftime but I could see us starting to fade.

“We were a bit sore, we played four finals and they played two so that always helps. But they kept beating us (throughout the season) so they were a better side and they just make us play a little silly.”

Owens said he was certain Broadbeach would return bigger and better next season.

“I think you can clearly see that there has been a pathway since (2016). We were in the same position (they) are now two years ago and they’re setting themselves up for a really successful era if then can all stick together,” Owens said.