The 2010 Mackay Cutters season was the third in the club's history. Coached by Paul Bramley and captained by Jardine Bobongie, they competed in the QRL's Intrust Super Cup. The club qualified for the finals for the first time in their history, falling one game short of the Grand Final.
Season summary Paul Bramley, formerly of the Souths Logan Magpies, became the Cutters second head coach after the departure of Shane Muspratt. Muspratt, who retired as a player at the end of 2008, returned to the club as a player in 2010. Key signings for the club included Welsh international Neil Budworth, former Queensland representative Josh Hannay and North Sydney Bears New South Wales Cup utility Justin Hunt.
The club enjoyed their best season to date in 2010, winning 11 games in the regular season and finishing in sixth place, qualifying for the finals for the first time. In their first finals game, the Cutters upset the Sunshine Coast Sea Eagles 14–4 before losing to the Norths Devils 12–56 in the preliminary final. Prop Liam McDonald, a new recruit from Souths Logan, was named the club's Player of the Year, while North Queensland Cowboys contracted centre Donald Malone was selected for the Queensland Residents side.
Milestones Round 13: The club scored 50 points for the first time. Round 22: The club qualified for their first finals series.
Squad List 2010 squad
The following players contracted to the North Queensland Cowboys played for the Cutters in 2010: Mitchell Achurch, Isaak Ah Mau, Leeson Ah Mau, Shannon Gallant, Obe Geia, Ben Harris, Antonio Kaufusi, Donald Malone, Grant Rovelli and Arana Taumata.
Squad movement Gains Player Signed From Until End of Notes Neil Budworth Celtic Crusaders Zac Dalton Central Coast Storm Luke Fatnowna Central Comets Josh Hannay Celtic Crusaders Justin Hunt North Sydney Bears Tyson Martin North Queensland Cowboys Liam McDonald Souths Logan Magpies Shane Muspratt Retirement Peter Quinn Canberra Raiders Todd Titmus Central Comets
Losses Player Signed To Until End of Notes Daniel Abraham Central Coast Centurions Roy Baira Townsville Brothers Chance Bunce Released Quinton Fielder Released Sam Granville Released Peter Hassall Released Quinton Mitchell Townsville Brothers Troy Paget Released
Fixtures Regular season
Date Round Opponent Venue Score Tries GoalsSaturday, 13 MarchRound 1 Central CometsBrowne Park 10 – 20 Achurch, GeiaHunt (1)Saturday, 1 May*Round 2 Easts TigersMackay JRL Grounds 18 – 16 Bobongie, Fatnowna, Hunt Hunt (3)Sunday, 28 MarchRound 3 Redcliffe DolphinsMackay JRL Grounds 18 – 25 L. Ah Mau, Gallant, HuntHunt (3)Saturday, 3 AprilRound 4 Norths DevilsBishop Park 24 – 54Flynn, Giumelli, Griffiths, Rovelli Hunt (4)Saturday, 10 AprilRound 5 Burleigh BearsPizzey Park 36 – 10Martin (2), Achurch, Griffiths, Malone, Muspratt Hunt (6)Saturday, 17 AprilRound 6 Northern PrideBarlow Park 16 – 20Hunt, Malone, Rovelli Hunt (2)Saturday, 24 AprilRound 7 Wynnum Manly SeagullsMackay JRL Grounds 26 – 16Comerford, Giumelli, Griffiths, Hunt, Kaufusi Hunt (3)Sunday, 9 MayRound 8 Souths Logan MagpiesDavies Park 18 – 28Hunt (2), Griffiths Hunt (3)Saturday, 15 MayRound 9 Tweed Heads SeagullsNed Byrne Field 30 – 36Comerford, Griffiths, Hunt, Martin, Meigan Hunt (5)Saturday, 22 MayRound 10 Ipswich JetsNorth Ipswich Reserve 20 – 6Martin (2), Bobongie, Seymour Hunt (1), Seymour (1)Sunday, 30 MayRound 11 Sunshine Coast Sea EaglesMackay JRL Grounds 40 – 26Rovelli (2), Comerford, Fatnowna, Martin, Malone, Quinn Gallant (5), Seymour (1)Sunday, 6 JuneRound 12 Central CometsMackay JRL Grounds 48 – 12Hunt (2), Malone (2), Seymour (2), Bobongie, Comerford, Giumelli Hunt (6)Saturday, 12 JuneRound 13 Easts TigersLanglands Park 50 – 20Comerford (2), Hunt (2), Malone (2), Geia, Rovelli, Seymour Hunt (7)Saturday, 19 JuneRound 14 Redcliffe DolphinsDolphin Oval 22 – 16Martin (2), Fatnowna, Rovelli Hunt (3)Sunday, 4 JulyRound 15 Norths DevilsMackay JRL Grounds 26 – 28 I. Ah Mau, Ahwang, Comerford, Griffiths, Taumata Hannay (3)Saturday, 10 JulyRound 16 Burleigh BearsMackay JRL Grounds 28 – 22Malone (2), Giumelli, Meigan, Seymour Hunt (4)Sunday, 18 JulyRound 17 Northern PrideMackay JRL Grounds 16 – 22Fatnowna, Giumelli, Hunt Hunt (2)Sunday, 25 JulyRound 18 Wynnum Manly SeagullsBMD Kougari Oval 28 – 16 I. Ah Mau, Gallant, Giumelli, Rovelli, Seymour Hannay (4)Sunday, 1 AugustRound 19 Souths Logan MagpiesMackay JRL Grounds 10 – 34Comerford, Griffiths Hannay (1)Saturday, 14 AugustRound 20 Tweed Heads SeagullsMackay JRL Grounds 18 – 18Malone (2), Muspratt Hannay (3)Saturday, 21 AugustRound 21 Ipswich JetsMackay JRL Grounds 30 – 6Fatnowna (2), Giumelli, Griffiths, Seymour Hannay (5)Sunday, 29 AugustRound 22 Sunshine Coast Sea EaglesStockland Park 12 – 40 Giumelli, Muspratt Hannay (2) Legend:
Finals
Date Round Opponent Venue Score Tries GoalsSaturday, 4 SeptemberSemi Final Sunshine Coast Sea EaglesStockland Park14 – 4 Comerford, Malone, Martin Hannay (1)Saturday, 11 SeptemberPreliminary Final Norths DevilsBishop Park12 – 56 Giumelli, Harris Hannay (2) Legend:
Statistics *Denotes player contracted to the North Queensland Cowboys for the 2010 season
NameTGFGPts2--82--81--4Khan Ahwang1--4Jardine Bobongie3--12Michael Comerford9--36Luke Fatnowna6--24Daniel Flynn1--425-182--8Chris Giumelli9--36Darren Griffiths8--32-21-421--41253-1541--412--489--36Michael Meigan2--83--12Peter Quinn1--47--28Todd Seymour72-321--4 Totals 102 81 0 570
Honours Club Player of the Year: Liam McDonald Sponsor's Player of the Year: Neil Budworth Rookie of the Year: Tyson Martin Club Person of the Year: Carolyn Craig
References