Leaders vital to rise of Brothers
WHEN Steve Mcnaughton asked his team how many had won a premiership, only a few raised their hands.
It made the rise of Townsville Brothers’ women to the top of the North Queensland Premier League all the sweeter, as a host of up-and-coming stars cemented themselves as ones to watch.
A 2-1 win over Rebels completed an undefeated campaign, and coach Mcnaughton has continuously been impressed by the growth his outfit has undergone.
From 14-year-old goalkeeper Layne Chapman to determined teen Elise Papageorge, Mcnaughton’s side has prospered since sport’s hiatus lifted in securing the premiership in a canter.
But they were never comfortable with where they sat, never complacent as the rest of the competition remained hot on their tails, week in and out.
With a host of other teenagers in the ranks, that pressure could have proved their undoing, but the Brothers mentor said much of their success was to do with a key leadership pairing on the field.
“My two leaders are our captain Lara Seeger, she’s been outstanding this year and guides them through humour and keeping it fun,” Mcnaughton said.
“Zali Simmonds is my vicecaptain, and between the two of them they’ve steered the ship, they’ve organised everything that needs to be organised and are just dependable.
“You just knew you couldn’t put a foot wrong because they would capitalise. We took every game as it could be your last, particularly earlier on when things were a little unclear on where COVID was.”
While the premiership has been locked away, Mcnaughton said his side’s focus had shifted straight to the imminent finals series.
The likes of MA Olympic and Rebels have pushed Brothers at various stages, and that in itself has served as the perfect motivation to remain humble in victory.
“Finals football is a lottery half the time – it’s the team that turns up to play,” Mcnaughton said.
“But like I’ve said to the girls all year, for you to win the premiership it’s like a grand final every week because you can’t afford to drop points.”
EMOTIONS ran high when Gavin Cooper farewelled the Cowboys faithful, but his absence could be what brings out the best in Josh Mcguire.
Mcguire was recognised as the club’s Players’ Player at the North Queensland end of season awards, but already his mind is fixed on turning around their fortunes in 2021.
With Cooper and John Asiata leaving, a further void has been created in the team’s leadership stocks.
In their absence, Mcguire will become the Cowboys’ most capped NRL player, and second oldest only to Jake Granville.
As a host of young guns come through the North Queensland ranks, they will need the remaining senior players to set the tone and inspire the early stages of their careers.
It is a role that was always going to define Cooper’s final season in Townsville, and now the mantle has been passed to his former State of Origin teammate as he looks to cast aside the ill discipline that has cost him suspensionenforced stints on the sidelines.
“He was a big part of my reason why I came to this club, he’s a fantastic clubman and a fantastic footballer,” Mcguire said.
“He probably didn’t get the accolades he deserved but within the playing group he’s held in the highest regard and I’m very proud to be able to call him a teammate and friend off the field.
“I could never put myself in Coops’s shoes for what he’s done for this club and the young guys, but obviously a little bit of responsibility comes with the age and now’s the time to grow up and be a leader around the group.
“We’re running out of old guys, and I’ll be one of the last 30 year olds so I’ll probably have to grow up a little bit I guess.”
In a season marked by inconsistency the output of Mcguire and his fellow middle forwards bucked the trend. The 30-year-old ran for 1187 post-contact metres in 17 games (70m per game) while averaging nearly 40 tackles per hitout.
Whatever the nature of the contest, whatever results they had been dealt, Mcguire was consistently wearing his heart on his sleeve and doing whatever he could to pull his teammates along with him.
So to be recognised by them as the club’s best player in 2020, while maintaining a jovial nature off the field, meant everything to the veteran forward.
“I always hold it in the highest regard, your peers are who are out there in the heat of the battle with you,” Mcguire said.
“They’re the guys you have to impress and they’re the guys you have to look in the eyes after a game, so to get this award off those guys is something very special.
“I thought it was just better to have fun and enjoy whatever the world chucks at you at the moment.
“I always just tried to do my job, I love the game, I love being a part of the team so I tried to make it as enjoyable as it could be.
“I think people take it the way they want to take it, I’m obviously always serious about winning but we’re very lucky and fortunate to do what we do for a living so I never take it for granted and look on the bright side of things.”