Mareeba welcome back title winner

HE CAPTAIN-COACHED THEM (MAREEBA) TO THE PREMIERSHIP IN 2007 BEFORE GOING TO THE PRIDE. IT’S HARD TO GO PAST A RESUME LIKE THAT. MAREEBA PRESIDENT JOHN ARCIDIACONO

A FORMER Cairns District Rugby League premiership winner and Northern Pride legend will return to his roots next season, as he takes on two key roles which could make a massive impact on footy in Far North Queensland.

Chris Sheppard steered Mareeba Gladiators to the CDRL title in 1999, before embarking on a career which took him to the NRL.

He played 65 NRL games, the bulk at North Queensland between 2001-05 with two seasons at St George-Illawarra, then returned to the Far North where he achieved Queensland Cup immortality.

First, he captain-coached Mareeba to the 2007 CDRL premiership, crushing Cairns Brothers 54-26 in the decider then claiming the coach of the year award.

Then, Sheppard was the man who steered the Northern Pride to their first Queensland Cup premiership, captaining the Cairns club when they beat the Devils 30-20 in the decider.

He won the Duncan Hall Medal for his man-of-thematch performance in the grand final, which was also his last game before retirement.

Sheppard is also a former chief executive at the Pride, but returned to his roots by being involved with coaching young footballers and helping the next generation of Far North rugby league players develop via roles with the Cairns

District Junior Rugby League and the Northern Pride.

He will take that to the next level in 2022, taking on the role of Mareeba Gladiators’ Agrade coach as well as the Pride’s Cyril Connell Challenge team (U16s).

For Mareeba president John Arcidiacono, it was a nobrainer to appoint Sheppard when he registered his interest.

“You can’t go past his experience and knowledge,” Arcidiacono said.

“He won a premiership in his first year at Mareeba (1999), and captain-coached them to the premiership in 2007 before going to the Pride. It’s hard to go past a resume like that.”

Arcidiacono revealed the club sought to develop a “two to four-year” plan with Sheppard as the Tablelands club seeks a return to the top of the CDRL ladder.

He said the club was also working to secure players for their 2022 premiership tilt.

While a number of players have already recommitted for another season at Davies Park, Arcidiacono said the club would soon lock in new players.