Supercoach puts Iggy Park on top
IGNATIUS Park’s league team is dreaming big, and the confidence is stemming from their very own “supercoach”.
The school is still celebrating its Confraternity campaign, which ended in a 34-0 grand final thumping of The Cathedral College, Rockhampton, and leading the way was coach Steve Lansley.
Lansley has been credited with formulating one of the most dominant performances in the 40-year history of the Confraternity Shield carnival.
Players and team support staff have hailed Lansley’s approach to the tournament, which has become a stomping ground for students striving towards NRL careers.
Lansley’s strong coaching background includes mentoring fellow Townsville school teams from Kirwan State High School and St Anthony’s Catholic College.
He has also coached Centrals in the Townsville and Districts Rugby League, but the assignment to take Iggy Park back to the top of Confraternity has been perhaps his most challenging role.
“The biggest challenge in schoolboy footy is just getting consistency, and that comes down to preparation,” he said.
“We try to be consistent with our training schedule and that gives us every chance of being consistent in games.”
Lansley has taken the reins of one of North Queensland’s true rugby league nurseries, with the likes of Michael Morgan, Val Holmes and Kyle Feldt playing in the school’s blue and white jersey at Confraternity.
Lansley’s 2019 squad is the first Iggy Park outfit to win Confraternity since 2016 and there was no shortage of spirit within the squad.
That spirit was exemplified by backrower Dean Barnes, who insisted on wearing his school’s full playing kit for the decider despite being sidelined with a broken arm.
Townsville Blackhawks under-20s coach Dave Elliott, who coached Iggy Park to its first Confraternity title in 2008 and whose team included future Cowboys stars Morgan and Feldt, said Lansley deserved congratulations.
“I guess for Steve winning his first one is pretty special,” Elliott said.
“I know how big it is for the school and … it’s a unique experience playing at Confraternity. It’s a great achievement and the players involved will never forget it.”
Iggy Park’s year is not over, however, and continues with the Aaron Payne Cup semi-finals being played in a fortnight.
Iggy Park hosts keen rivals St Brendan’s College, Yeppoon, and cross-town rivals Kirwan State High School play The Cathedral College at Brothers League Club.
Lansley said Iggy Park had every chance to progress deeper into the Aaron Payne Cup and make an impact against highly rated teams from Queensland’s southeast, who have traditionally been a roadblock for past Iggy Park teams chasing national glory.
Iggy Park’s gritty defence, sizeable pack and improving attack has Lansley confident his team can mix it with the elite schools.
“That’s something we want to get better at, being more consistent against schools from the southeast corner like Palm Beach Currumbin and Keebra Park,” Lansley said.
“It’s still a bit surreal that we’ve won Confro and we’re proud of the achievement, but we want to come back nice and fresh and reset for some very tough games.
“I’ve said it before, but dropping your guard in this competition spells trouble and if we drop our guard against St Brendan’s we’ll lose, simple as that.”