The 2018 Mackay Cutters season was the 11th in the club's history. Coached by Steve Sheppard and captained by Tom Murphy, they competed in the QRL's Intrust Super Cup. The club missed the finals for the fifth consecutive season, finishing last and winning their third wooden spoon.
Season summary The Cutters entered 2018 with a younger and less experienced side following the departures of co-captains Andrew Davey and Setaimata Sa. New recruits included Wests Tigers NSW Cup duo Jordan Grant and Darcy Cox, Northern Pride forward Jack Brock and former Canberra Raiders U20 back Jack Hickson.
Another poor start to the season followed for the club, as they won just three of their first nine games. Things went from bad to worse after their bye week, as they went on a club record 10-game losing streak. Halfback Cooper Bambling rejoined the club mid-season after joining the Canberra Raiders in the off-season but his return would not help the club's fortunes. The streak ended in Round 21 with a 16-all draw against the Redcliffe Dolphins. The club won just one more game and finished the season in last place.
Jordan Grant won the club's Player of the Year and Players' Player awards in his first season with the Cutters.
Squad List 2018 squad
Squad movement Gains Player Signed From Until end of Notes Cooper Bambling Canberra Raiders (mid-season) Jack Brock Northern Pride Zac Butler Western Mustangs Darcy Cox Wests Tigers Jesse Dee Illawarra Cutters Dane Francis St George Illawarra Dragons Jordan Grant Wests Tigers Bailey Hartwig Norths Devils Jack Hickson Woden Valley Rams
Losses Player Signed From Until end of Notes Cooper Bambling Canberra Raiders Jack Blagbrough Leigh Centurions Andrew Davey Townsville Blackhawks Jake Eden Released Gareth Moore Released Jacob Pottinger Released Isaac Richardson Released Setaimata Sa Wests Tigers Mackay Kouma Samson Mount Albert Lions Semisi Tyrell Mount Albert Lions
Fixtures Regular season
Date Round Opponent Venue Score Tries Goals Saturday, 10 MarchRound 1 Townsville BlackhawksBB Print Stadium12 – 56 Atherton, Joass Hynes (2)Sunday, 18 MarchRound 2 Easts TigersSuzuki Stadium24 – 26 Dunn, Faletagoa'i, Laybutt, Saumalu, Wiltshire Laybutt (2)Saturday, 24 MarchRound 3 Central Queensland CaprasBB Print Stadium18 – 16 Hodges, Laybutt, Wiltshire Laybutt (3)Saturday, 31 MarchRound 4 Northern PrideBarlow Park16 – 22 Bowie (2), Coote, Hodges Saturday, 7 AprilRound 5 Sunshine Coast FalconsBB Print Stadium4 – 32 Atherton Saturday, 14 AprilRound 6 Ipswich JetsNorth Ipswich Reserve28 – 18 Faletagoa'i (2), Bobongie, Leslie, Wiltshire Bowie (4)Saturday, 21 AprilRound 7 Redcliffe DolphinsBB Print Stadium10 – 38 Bowie, Saumalu Bowie (1)Saturday, 28 AprilRound 8 Tweed Heads SeagullsBB Print Stadium24 – 52 Dunn, Hodges, Saumalu, Wiltshire Bowie (4)Saturday, 5 MayRound 9 Norths DevilsBishop Park26 – 10 Bobbert, Brown, Cox, Hodges, Hynes Hynes (3)Round 10ByeSunday, 20 MayRound 11 Souths Logan MagpiesDavies Park30 – 42 Bowie, Coote, Faletagoa'i, Hynes, Murphy, Wiltshire Hynes (3)Saturday, 26 MayRound 12 Burleigh BearsPizzey Park10 – 20 Bambling, Brown Hynes (1)Saturday, 2 JuneRound 13 Wynnum Manly SeagullsBB Print Stadium20 – 34 Atherton, Faletagoa'i, Hynes, Wiltshire Hynes (2)Sunday, 10 JuneRound 14 PNG HuntersNational Football Stadium12 – 26 Bambling, Hodges Joass (2)Saturday, 16 JuneRound 15 Townsville BlackhawksJack Manski Oval22 – 28 Atherton, Faletagoa'i, Grant, Joass Joass (3)Saturday, 30 JuneRound 16 Central Queensland CaprasBrowne Park6 – 20 Laybutt Joass (1)Friday, 6 JulyRound 17 Ipswich JetsBB Print Stadium0 – 54 Saturday, 14 JulyRound 18 Easts TigersBB Print Stadium10 – 44 Hynes, Leslie Hynes (1)Saturday, 21 JulyRound 19 Sunshine Coast FalconsDenison Park18 – 40 Atherton, Brown, Saumalu Hynes (3)Sunday, 29 JulyRound 20 Tweed Heads SeagullsPiggabeen Sports Complex22 – 24 Atherton, Bowie, Hynes, Saumalu, Treston Hynes (1)Saturday, 4 AugustRound 21 Redcliffe DolphinsDolphin Stadium16 – 16 Leslie (2), Grant Hynes (2)Saturday, 11 AugustRound 22 Northern PrideBB Print Stadium12 – 24 Bowie, Wright Laybutt (2)Saturday, 18 AugustRound 23 Norths DevilsBB Print Stadium32 – 24 Bambling, Batchelor, Grant, Laybutt, Leslie, Wiltshire Laybutt (4)Saturday, 25 AugustRound 24 Souths Logan MagpiesBB Print Stadium14 – 22 Bowie, O'Brien, Wiltshire Hynes (1) Legend:
Statistics Denotes player contracted to the North Queensland Cowboys for the 2018 season
NameAppTGFGPtsJye Andersen7----Blake Atherton186--24Cooper Bambling143--12Jayden Batchelor21--4Sheldon Bobbert71--4Jardine Bobongie61--4Yamba Bowie2379-46Jack Brock5----Nick Brown223--12Zac Butler1----3----82--8Darcy Cox81--4Jesse Dee3----172--8Johnny Faletagoa'i216--24Leonati Feiloakitau2----Dane Francis1----Jordan Grant233--12Bailey Hartwig1----Jack Hickson7----11----215--2021519-58Kellen Jenner9----Jack Joass526-20Lona Kaifoto141----14411-38Bennett Leslie195--20Jared Maguire1----2----Sam Murphy3----Tom Murphy131--4John O'Brien21--4Nathan Saumalu215--20Brenden Treston131--4Kurt Wiltshire138--32101--4 Totals 74 45 0 386
Honours Club Player of the Year: Jordan Grant Players' Player: Jordan Grant Rookie of the Year: Jye Andersen Club Person of the Year: Danell Curtis
References