THE FAMILY CLUB THAT STILL STAYS TOGETHER

IF there’s one sure thing when it comes to the Southport Tigers, it’s that it won’t be long before you bump into a Shaw.

The indigenous Shaw family have a remarkable presence in the Owen Park club.

Luke Shaw coaches the club’s women’s side and Jo is the team manager. That women’s squad is captained by daughter Katie Shaw and among her teammates are sisters Jess and Maddie.

Another sister, Missy, is the partner of men’s A-grade star Tu Whakatihi.

The couple’s sons, Qwayde and Phoenyx Whakatihi, are next generation Tigers, as are Katie’s boys Chayse and Kobe Davis and Jess’ children Jaci-Lou and Jazlyn Smart.

If that wasn’t enough, Jess’ partner Josh Smart plays reserve grade in seniors.

“We’re very proud and very grateful,” Whakatihi said of the family’s involvement in the Tigers.

Katie laughed rugby league was very much on the discussion agenda any time there was a family get together and added her sons proudly brag to their friends that their mum plays footy.

Southport are set to return for their second season in the South East Queensland women’s Division 2 league this year, having fallen just short of a premiership at their first attempt, losing the 2018 decider 16-14 to Souths.

The side had come about after the Tigers approached Katie and Jess, who had a brief stint previously playing for Burleigh and regularly line up in the annual Koori Knockout. “Because my dad has played and my dad has coached, we have been at the club for almost 20 years,” said Katie, a 34-year-old hooker.

“So it was pretty much a given that they would come and approach us and we went and got as many players as we could, just mainly touch players because around Southport it’s all you have got.

“To make the grand final was a pretty big effort. It was a bit of a confidence booster for the club, for myself and for some of the players.”

Luke was pleased to see the team progress in 2018 and enjoyed the fact that female players listen better than their male counterparts.

“There was a lot of improvement. It was a great effort,” he said.

Whakatihi will be back in action on Sunday when the Tigers meet Currumbin in the Rugby League Gold Coast season-opener.

Picture: GLENN HAMPSON The Shaw family (back row from left) Jo Shaw, Maddie Shaw, Luke Shaw, Tu Whakatihi, Josh Smart, Jess Shaw, Missy Shaw. Middle row: Kobe Davis, 7, Chayse Davis, 11, Qwayde Whakatihi, 10, Jaci-Lou Smart, 6, Katie Shaw. Front row: Phoenyx Whakatihi, 4, Jazlyn Smart, 2.