Casey on mission to defy the odds
Memorial Shield at stake
Miners coach Shaun Casey will never forget the kindness showed to his family by Paul and Donna Stevenson and is determined to bring the Memorial Shield bearing their names home to Charters Towers on Saturday.
Brothers and Charters Towers competed for the Donna Stevenson Memorial Shield between 2004 and 2019, before the passing of Paul in 2020 prompted an expansion to honour both members of the husband-and-wife volunteering team that left an indelible mark on Townsville’s rugby league community.
Brothers have claimed the shield on every occasion but one, though the Miners have closed the gap in recent years.
Last season’s thriller was decided by a single point and Casey expects his Miners to lift once again in honour of the Stevensons.
“It’s certainly personal for me,” Casey said.
“I’ve been associated with the Stevenson family for a long time. Both Donna and Paul were a big influence on our family. When my brother (Mick) came from Charters Towers to play for the Cowboys Young Guns team in 2002 or 2003 ‘Stevo’ and Donna took him in for a few months.
“Paul and Donna certainly helped Mick out in his time of need and my family have never forgotten that.
“This game means more to me than most so I’m just trying to instil that history because 99 per cent of our guys didn’t have anything to do with Donna or Paul. Any time you play you want to beat Brothers because they are the yardstick of the competition but even more so in this one.”
Brothers have dominated the rivalry 18-1 since the Shield’s formation but club president Jeff Doyle said the day was about more than just a result.
Paul and Donna’s daughter Jemmah will present medals named for each of her parents to the player of the day in A grade and women’s fixtures.
Jemmah’s baby daughter Millie will also attend for the first time.
“While we like to win it, the reason behind it (honouring the Stevensons) is a win in itself,” Doyle said.
“It’s a tribute to a remarkable couple that didn’t have to be volunteers to any club, let alone Brothers, and we’re indebted to them for a very long time.”
Both clubs will field newlook outfits, with the ripple effect of the Cowboys and Blackhawks being felt across the competition.
The Miners have lost star centre Harry Mcqueen to Blackhawks duties while dynamic prop Braythen Porter has been selected for the Queensland Cup under-21s.
Brothers coach Michael Parker-walshe told the Bulletin that his team’s struggles in big games, including last year’s Stevenson Shield clash, was a weakness he was desperate to correct.
Casey said the public nature of that feedback would light a fire under Brothers but vowed his side would rise to the occasion with a simple game plan built around territory and possession – allowing Brothers to make their own mistakes.