MARLINS FACE CHANGE

QSome of the Marlins players seem frustrated they are only playing a shortened season in 2019 after their grand final win last year. How do you view the Marlins going forward and what does the Ruby series competition looks like?

AI can understand their frustration because you always want to defend your title and continue to build a legacy. The team last season deserves that recognition for sure. As I have said in the past we want our players to continue their development and it is hoped that several are selected to the Northern Rays team and will be able to do that. The Ruby series will provide four cluster weekends for the Marlins to play against Townsville and Mackay. Three of those weekends coincide with a Northern Rays game in Townsville and Mackay and we will host the fourth day here on August 10 or 11. Unfortunately, we do not see the Northern Rays in Cairns this year but we are working on hosting two games next year.

QThe partnership with Cairns State High and Cairns netball sounds exciting, can you expand on what that will look like?

AUntil I get some time to sit with Principal Chris Zilm at Cairns High, I can’t really comment other than having seen the plans for the new facility, it is an exciting opportunity and one that can’t come fast enough. Having a facility being purpose built will hopefully entice some Suncorp Championship teams to the Far North for preparation or a game.