A unique premiership defence begins as the Cutters aim to ‘star’ against the Seagulls this saturday

With one of the most talented rosters in the league the Mackay Cutters will look to make history in their BMD Premiership debut this weekend. Here is how they will do it

Mackay Cutters compete in the BMD Premiership at Airlie Beach on February 18, 2023. Picture: Marty Strecker

The ‘clunky’ Cutters will tap into rugby league’s basics in a history-making BMD Premiership debut against Wynnum Manly this Saturday.

First-year head coach Marco Peters says the female squad is in great shape to be able to do something “exciting” in their maiden appearance in the competition.

BMD Cup head coach Marco Peters (right) is ready to make history this weekend with the Cutters side hoping for a debut win against the Wynnum Manly Seagulls in Brisbane. Picture: Mitchell Dyer

“We’re just going to keep building each week,” Peters said.

“Things will be clunky but it will be really around the effort areas and our competing for everything is what will get us through Saturday.”

Although this is the first step in the Cutters journey in the state league competition it is also in a way a premiership defence in new colours.

The majority of the team were part of the premiership winning Gold Stars in 2022 but Peters is adamant the team will use a “fresh approach” in 2023.

“There’s no hangover from being the premiers last year,” said Peters.

“We do have a lot of the players who are the same, we also have a lot of different players too.”

Star Hooker and local talent Emma Manzelmann is excited about the opportunity to defend their Gold Stars premiership of last season in new colours and apart of the Cutters organisation. (Photo by Mark Kolbe/Getty Images)

During the off season the Cutters managed to sign numerous NRLW talents including the likes of Emma Manzelmann and Jade Peters who couldn't be more thrilled to be suiting up for their hometown team.

“I’m pretty honoured to play in the first Cutters team” Emma Manzelmann said.

“It feels good that we are actually representing Mackay now … we represent all of north Queensland but to be based here is pretty cool”

Emma Manzelmann of the Mackay Cutters is excited to have the team in the region as she looks to dominate against the Seagulls this weekend. Picture: Mitchell Dyer

The last time these sides met was back in round 3 last year when the then Gold Stars came away one try victors in a game decided in the final moments.

Both sides managed to make finals but the Seagulls were squashed by the Capras, ruining their grand final chances where they would have faced an eventually victorious Gold Stars squad.

The Cutters line up is stacked with existing and fresh Queensland talent as they eye a big victory in Brisbane come Saturday afternoon, 2023. Picture: Marty Strecker

With an abundance of talent and a dominant record in pre-season campaigns the Cutters women will look to set the tone early in Brisbane this weekend and register their first ever win as a Mackay outfit.

The game will kick off BMD Kougari Oval before the men’s side at 1:20pm