Boyne Island’s Brendan Rea takes Gladstone’s best sports coach title | 2023

A rugby league, cricket and netball coach from Boyne Island has been named Gladstone’s best sports coach after taking a leap of faith and coaching his son’s team.

A rugby league, cricket and netball coach from Boyne Island has been named Gladstone’s best sports coach after taking a leap of faith and coaching his son’s team. On the left, he pictured with his son and daughter, Caden and Mahli Rea, and on the right, with his youngest son, Logan Rea.

Finding his calling as a sports coach in 2019 — just before covid hit — Gladstone’s best sports coach for 2023 has blended his years of sports experience with his dedication and passion for the field.

Rugby League, Netball and cricket coach, Brendan Rea never intended to become a sports coach, but when the opportunity to coach for the U13’s Tannum Boyne Seagulls JRL team — which his oldest son was a part of — presented itself, he jumped to the task.

“Once I got there and into my element I found it easy and enjoyable,” he said.

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Mr Rea moved up to coach the U15’s team in 2020, before Covid halted the season from going ahead.

He returned in 2022, coaching the U12’s team, and in 2023, for the U13’s team.

Mr Rea’s most notable achievement so far with theSeagulls, was when the 13’s team finished as runner ups in an ‘epic’ grand final going down in extra time to Calliope.

Coach Brendan Rea and Gary Larson with the 2022 Tannum Boyne Seagulls U12’s team at the JH GL Cup.

As well as the Seagulls Rugby League team, he has since joined the BITS Cricket club and the Gladstone Netball Association.

In Cricket, he coached the U15’s cricket team for the 2021-2022 and the 2022-2023 season, and returned as an assistant coach for the 22/23 season with the u17s team.

Brendan Rea with Coach Leon Sternberg (far left) and the 2022/2023 BITS U17’s Sixers premier team.

In 2023, Mr Rea took on the role as co-ordinator for the BITS CC Junior Blast program, coaching introduction skills for participants between five and seven years old.

As well as coaching the Junior Blast program this season (23/24), he is also coaching the inaugural Women’s/girls Cricket Program with Neil Rethamel.

“Neil is a tireless volunteer for the BITS CC juniors,” he said.

Coach Brendan Rea and Neil Rethamel (far right) with the 2020/2021 BITS Strikers premiers team.

In 2022, he also become an assistant coach for the Gladstone Netball Association u14 championship team for State Age.

“Giving netball a go as an assistant coach, has been an awesome experience to step outside my comfort zone, learn the game and to build a great team culture,” he said.

Brendan Rea with Coach Jen Williams and the 2022 Gladstone Netball U14’s Championship Team.

Although coaching is not his full-time commitment, Mr Rea dedicates himself to coaching throughout the year, effectively managing his time alongside his leadership responsibilities at Rio Tinto, where he leads frontline teams.

A proud father of five (four boys aged 17, 13, 9, and 6, and a 15-year-old girl), Mr Rea has also supported his kids in various sports over the years. All of his sons played rugby league for the Seagulls, cricket for BITS CC, and participated in little athletics.

His daughter Mahli plays netball, cricket and little athletics.

After representing Queensland in U16s cricket last season, Mahli has recently earned a spot in the QLD U16 cricket team for the Nationals in Tasmania in January and the Qld Representative School Sports U15s team for Nationals in Mackay next August.

Brendan Rea with his son and daughter, Caden and Mahli Rea before a 2023 senior game.

As child, Mr Rea played many different sports, but focused mainly on Cricket and Rugby League.

“I gave cricket away at the age of 14 and focused on rugby league with Tannum Seagulls,” he said.

He played from the U12’s team through to the seniors A-Grade team for ten years, and became the recipient of the Tannum Seagulls Green Jacket in 2012.

Mr Rea was inspired by his past coaches, Gary Larson and Jason Hetherington, strives to incorporate aspects of Larson’s coaching style (in particular) into his own practice.

“I was inspired to coach junior sport to share my knowledge of the game and experiences to improve the knowledge and skills of young athletes in our region,” he said.

In response to being asked what makes him a good coach, he replied, coaching isn’t all sunshine and rainbows.

“There’s hard parts but the best part is seeing the joy in the kids faces when they’ve had success and also the kids knowing that I’ve got their backs when things don’t go their way.

Success doesn’t always mean winning, success is about character, the process and working towards the result.”

Leif Audet (U19’s Past Brothers Rugby League coach) and Cath Langridge (Wallaby women’s coach at Wallaby Rugby League Club Gladstone) tied for runner up with 10 per cent of the votes.