Michael Crawley set to leave the Cutters at the end of Intrust Super Cup season

The coach’s tenure will end after a two-year stint in Mackay, with the side languishing at the bottom of the table.

Mackay Cutters coach Michael Crawley will finish his tenure at Mackay after two seasons.

The search for Mackay’s next rugby coach has ramped up, with the Cutters openly advertising the part-time role on social media.

The semi-professional rugby league side has had a disappointing season to date, managing just two wins through 12 matches in 2021.

Outgoing coach Michael Crawley said he had always planned to spend two seasons in Mackay before moving on.

“I want to get back into NRL coaching, the plan for me was always to spend two years here,” he said.

“I’ve spoken with a couple of teams but nothing more than registered interest.”

Mackay Cutters coach Michael Crawley will finish his tenure at Mackay after two seasons.

Crawley only managed one game in the 2020 season before the league shut down because of Covid-19 concerns.

He said Covid had meant seeing his family, who lived in Canberra, became more difficult than anticipated.

“It’s hard because I can’t really go down there with all the outbreaks in New South Wales,” Crawley said.

“My wife could come up here, but then she might not be able to get back down, which is great for me but not for her work.”

Crawley has been involved in elite rugby league circles for more than a decade, with stints at the Cowboys, Knights and Raiders as an assistant coach.

He then moved to St George Illawarra Dragons as a coaching adviser for the 2019 season before joining the Cutters.

Mackay’s link with the North Queensland Cowboys program as a feeder club gives prospective coaches potential growth into NRL ranks.