First year coach Mick Comerford’s insights into big 2023 season

Mick Comerford is not holding back in his first season as head coach of the Cutters, with the former assistant working the side harder both mentally and physically for 2023.

Scottish import Kyle Schneider will have benefitted from his six week stint in the Cowboys preseason training camp ahead of his second season as a Cutter

In the past five seasons the Mackay Cutters have failed to rise above 11th position on the Qld Cup ladder, but new head coach Mick Comerford has high hopes this year could be different.

Comerford is ambitious about his squad and what it can achieve heading into the 2023 season, with both mental and physical intensity being key to potential success.

Last season the Cutters stayed in 11th place even though they managed to win four more games than the season before, something Comerford said showed the club was headed in the right direction.

“We want to reach our potential,” Comerford Said

“Within the group there is a pretty big desire to win games.”

The team has a unique makeup including ex NRL talent, long time contributors to the club and young locals busting for their opportunity to make their debut.

With all but one member of the squad’s leadership group returning, the club is in a great position to come together as a cohesive unit with leadership experience under the belt.

2022 Captain Ross Bella will be one of the most senior members of the side heading into the 2023 season and will be hopeful to taste finals for the first time.

With several key NRL signings joining the squad the push for spots has also become fierce among the side of 30.

“The intensity of our training has gone up,” Comerford Said

Within the club the focus remains on winning games without putting a cap on their potential as Comerford looks to get the most out of his side by making the focus on team and not the individual.

“We have confidence, not arrogance,” Comerford Said

Praising the ability of the side to check its own needs at the door for the benefit of the team as a whole, he noted the entire playing group had “bought into how we want to play”.

The Cutters have the benefit of starting their year primarily at home with a run of games allowing them the chance to start strong and sustain coming into the back end of the season.

Hiale Roycroft has returned for season 2023 ahead of what coach Mick Comerford believes can see the Cutters rise up the ladder

With the side playing five of their last six games away from home, being able to start the year with minimal travel will be paramount to a potential finals push approaching the business end of the calendar.

Having jumped from four to eight wins last season, the Cutters showed they were heading in the right direction.

The Cutters will open their season with a game against Wynnum Manly Seagulls away from home on March 11 before returning to the BB Print field the following week to take on the Northern Pride.