The 2008 Mackay Cutters season was the first in the club's history. Captain-coached by Shane Muspratt, they competed in the QRL's Wizard Cup. The club finished ninth in their inaugural season, winning seven games, losing 12 and drawing once.
Season summary The Cutters played their first Queensland Cup game local rivals, the Northern Pride, who were also playing their first game, losing 16–44. Proserpine junior Sam Faust, who was contracted to the North Queensland Cowboys at the time, scored the club's first try. Two more losses followed before the club recorded their first win, a 24–22 victory over the Redcliffe Dolphins at Dolphin Oval. Their first home win came three weeks later when they defeated the Souths Logan Magpies 22–12 at the Mackay Junior Rugby League grounds. They won just four of their last 13 games and finished the season in ninth place.
Milestones Round 1: The club played their first Queensland Cup game. Round 1: Sam Faust scored the club's first try. Round 6: The club recorded their first Queensland Cup win. Round 8: The club recorded back-to-back wins for the first time. Round 21: Quinton Fielder became the first Cutters' player to score 3 tries in a game. Round 22: The club recorded their first three-game winning streak.
Squad List 2008 squad
The following players contracted to the North Queensland Cowboys played for the Cutters in 2008: Daniel Abraham, Daniel Backo, Travis Burns, Ben Farrar, Sione Faumuina, Sam Faust, John Frith, George Gatis, Keiron Lander, Anthony Perkins, Matthew Scott, Shane Tronc, Anthony Watts and Dayne Weston.
Squad movement Gains Player Signed from Until end of Notes John Doyle Sydney Roosters Matthew Mannion Redcliffe Dolphins Jamie McDonald Toulouse Olympique Shane Muspratt North Queensland Cowboys Cody Norton Central Comets Josh Rovelli Wynnum Manly Seagulls Adam Schubert Sydney Roosters Luke Young Celtic Crusaders
The Cutters recruited a number of players from the local Mackay & District Rugby League competition, they included: Aaron Barba, Sam Granville, David Nixon, Matt Parnis (Mackay Brothers), Dean Tass (Northern Suburbs Devils), Daniel Flynn, Scott Leigh, Royston Lightning, Jared Owens (Sarina Crocs), Anthony Caulton, Michael Comerford, Michael Pearce, Todd Seymour, Luke Srama, Kerrod Toby (Souths Sharks), James Bryant and Chris Giumelli (Wests Tigers).
Losses Player John Doyle Retired (pre-season)
Fixtures Regular season
Date Round Opponent Venue Score Tries Goals Saturday, 15 MarchRound 1 Northern PrideBarlow Park16 – 44 Faust, Toby, Watts Abraham (1), Giumelli (1) Saturday, 22 MarchRound 2 Wynnum Manly SeagullsBMD Kougari Oval10 – 18 Abraham, Barba Abraham (1)Saturday, 29 MarchRound 3 Ipswich JetsMackay JRL Grounds4 – 16 Giumelli Round 4ByeSaturday, 13 AprilRound 5 Redcliffe DolphinsDolphin Oval24 – 22 Burns (2), Abraham, Giumelli Abraham (4) Saturday, 19 AprilRound 6 Norths DevilsMackay JRL Grounds14 – 22 Perkins (2), Farrar Abraham (1) Sunday, 26 AprilRound 7 Burleigh BearsPizzey Park32 – 10 Abraham, Burns, Fielder, Granville, Perkins Abraham (6) Saturday, 3 MayRound 8 Souths Logan MagpiesMackay JRL Grounds22 – 12 Barba (2), Tass, Flynn Barba (2), Lightning (1) Saturday, 10 MayRound 9 Easts TigersMackay JRL Grounds20 – 40 Backo, Barba, Perkins, Lightning Barba (1), Seymour (1) Saturday, 17 MayRound 10 Central CometsMackay JRL Grounds12 – 18 Fielder, Seymour Seymour (2) Saturday, 24 MayRound 11 Tweed Heads SeagullsNed Byrne Field26 – 26 Giumelli (2), Tass (2), Granville Giumelli (3) Saturday, 7 JuneRound 12 Northern PrideMackay JRL Grounds12 – 18 Gatis, Tass Seymour (2) Saturday, 14 JuneRound 13 Wynnum Manly SeagullsMackay JRL Grounds30 – 36 Frith, Gatis, Giumelli, Granville, Lander, PerkinsGiumelli (2), Seymour (1) Saturday, 21 JuneRound 14 Ipswich JetsBriggs Rd Sporting Complex6 – 48 Perkins Abraham (1) Round 15ByeSaturday, 5 JulyRound 16 Redcliffe DolphinsMackay JRL Grounds10 – 18 Flynn, Tass Abraham (1) Sunday, 13 JulyRound 17 Norths DevilsBishop Park40 – 24 Lander (2), Giumelli, Lightning, McDonald, Toby, Wright Abraham (6) Saturday, 19 JulyRound 18 Burleigh BearsMackay JRL Grounds16 – 22 Giumelli (2), Gatis Abraham (1), Flynn (1) Sunday, 26 JulyRound 19 Souths Logan MagpiesMeakin Park22 – 26 Comerford, Granville, Toby, WrightAbraham (3) Saturday, 2 AugustRound 20 Easts TigersLanglands Park26 – 22 Fielder (2), Tass (2), Wright Abraham (3) Saturday, 9 AugustRound 21 Central CometsBrowne Park46 – 22 Fielder (3), Tass (2), Abraham, McDonald, Rovelli Abraham (7) Saturday, 16 AugustRound 22 Tweed Heads SeagullsMackay JRL Grounds28 – 24 Abraham, Flynn, Giumelli, Lightning, Seymour, Tass Abraham (2) Legend:
Statistics *Denotes player contracted to the North Queensland Cowboys for the 2008 season
NameTGFGPts533-86Daniel Backo1--4Aaron Barba43-123--12Michael Comerford1--41--41--4Quinton Fielder7--28Daniel Flynn31-141--43--12Chris Giumelli910-56Sam Granville4--16Keiron Lander3--1231-142--8Anthony Perkins6--24Josh Rovelli1--4Todd Seymour26-20Dean Tass10--40Kerrod Toby3--121--4Adam Wright3--12 Totals 77 54 0 416
Honours Club Player of the Year: Kerrod Toby Players' Player: Daniel Flynn Most Improved: Dean Tass Club Person of the Year: Kay Peel
References