Inside the Cowboys’ plan to ensure new Mackay Cutters partnership is a success

North Queensland’s chief powerbroker has promised the Cutters won’t be left in the cold as their partnership with the NRL club strengthens. Hear what he had to say.

North Queensland Cowboys CEO Jeff Reibel is eager at the prospect of strengthening the club’s connection with Mackay. Picture: Evan Morgan

North Queensland Cowboys CEO Jeff Reibel is confident the ghosts of his club’s soured relationship with Townsville won’t haunt the Mackay Cutters or Northern Pride in 2024.

With the Cutters and Pride confirmed as North Queensland affiliate clubs next season, Reibel said sharing Cowboys players evenly across the two clubs, instead of relying on one, would be a significant factor.

“We‘ve got a responsibility for the sustainability of the Cowboys into the future, to find a model at the second-tier level to ensure that that works for Todd Payten,” Reibel said.

“What we’ve learned over years, not just last year, is that this two-tier model that we are reverting to now has been the most successful one for us.”

The announcement follows the decision of Hostplus Cup side Townsville Blackhawks to align with South Sydney heading into 2024.

Despite still having an affiliation with the Cutters and Pride last season, the Cowboys allocated the majority of their fringe players to the Blackhawks.

The move effectively shut the Cutters and Pride out from accessing NRL talent.

Cody Nielsen of the Cutters in action. Picture:Michaela Harlow

But the relationship between the Cowboys and Blackhawks went south after Townsville’s regular starters walked away due to the high influx of Cowboys flooding the Blackhawks side each week.

The Cowboys have also previously expressed interest in having their own Queensland Cup side, although Reibel assured the Cutters they wouldn’t be left in the cold if this were to eventuate.

“There are different models that have been put forward from a second tier perspective across Queensland and across NSW,” he said.

“Our view is that what we want to do is continue to concentrate on the partnership that we’ve got, and then also continue to evaluate what is best for the Cowboys, but also importantly, our region and our affiliate clubs.”

Plenty of positives are set to come out of the deal, including the opportunity for four players to train with the Cowboys NRL squad in pre-season, two of which will come from within the Cutters squad.

Mackay Cutters CEO Mitch Cook. Photo: Zoe Devenport

Cutters CEO Mitch Cook was thrilled with that opportunity.

“It‘s the first time in (the Cutters’) history we’ve sent guys within our squad for the opportunity of a train and trial, rather than recruiting from outside and sending them up,” he said.

Cook wasn’t shy in stating the Cutters ambitions heading into 2024 either, especially after a poor 2023 campaign that saw Mackay claim just three wins to finish 14th.

He hopes the reinvigoration of the Cowboys partnership can help spark a resurgence.

“Our aim is to play finals, we really want to get back to finals, we want to be successful,” he said.

“Part of that success is having players go through our pathway to get to the NRL level, too, so hopefully there‘s some succession there.”

Jason Taumalolo featured in the Cutters 2013 premiership.

It isn’t a far-fetched prospect, with the Cutters only premiership in 2013 coming under a similar player-sharing model.

The likes of Michael Morgan and Jason Taumalolo figured in that premiership side.

The Cowboys CEO believed it was important to continue to engage across their “entire footprint” in North Queensland.

“Mackay and district is such a fertile production ground and holds such great history in rugby league,” Reibel said.

“We want to ensure that there’s a pathway for young boys and girls to know that when they’re running around in Mackay rugby league here, there’s a pathway right through to the NRL.”