MRU: Raiders championship clinches Houston swan song

Andre Houston had no intention of coaching when he arrived in Airlie Beach but he leaves the region as one of the best Mackay Rugby Union has ever seen. Discover his story.

Houston will leave a significant legacy behind at the Proserpine-Whitsunday Raiders. Picture: Supplied

It’s early 2017, and Cyclone Debbie, an event that many locals will remember forever, has just devastated the Whitsunday community.

André Houston jetted to Airlie Beach from New Zealand in its aftermath.

A six-week scaffolding contract would lure Houston to the recovering yet picturesque coastal town but local rugby club, the Proserpine-Whitsunday Raiders, would win over his heart during the course of his stay.

“I’d just come to Airlie Beach, I was coming to the end of my (scaffolding) contract,” Houston recalled.

He was with his partner Karla.

“We’d lived in the city most of our life… and we just looked at each other like ‘do we really want to go back to living the city lifestyle?” Houston said.

“We chose to just hang on and stay here. Our commitment to rugby became a huge part of our time in Airlie Beach.”

“I stepped into the coaching role that year and I’ve been here ever since,”

A dynasty ensued.

The Raiders recent 25-20 Mackay Rugby Union grand final triumph over the Moranbah Bulls would prove the final jewel in his crown.

The triumph saw Proserpine-Whitsunday move to second on the all-time MRU championship list. Picture: Mackay Rugby Union Facebook

The match was a seesawing affair that saw six lead changes.

“My best description of it was a rollercoaster, like the Superman ride at Movie World,” Houston said.

“It was a real tit-for-tat affair… both sides were just going back and forth until the final whistle went.”

Not one to single out individuals, several players performed too well for Houston to ignore.

“Luke Rae-Howard scored three tries, but those tries were built off our pressure, our defensive pressure,” he said.

“There were so many critical parts of the game, everyone had to play those parts, because if we just became reliant on one person then we wouldn’t get the result.

“Niall Clancy stepped up and took a penalty shot when he probably wasn’t hitting the ball as sweet in the opening half, he was under pressure to get this kick over, it was 22-20, and he stepped up and got this penalty shot.

“These are big play moments, but everyone had big moments.”

Manaia Hauiti also shone, adjudged the player of the match at the ripe age of 18.

The triumph was the Raiders’ third championship throughout Houston’s reign, and he led them to a total of five grand finals.

But he refuses to take the credit, instead attributing it to the local players.

“Those local boys… they all grew up together, went to primary school together, high school together,” Houston said.

“It’s hard to break a bond, you can always fill in the void with others, but if you’ve got a core group that’s the base of what everyone will come around.

“They’re good young men… If you’re having fun, being creative and enjoy putting the hard yards in, then anyone who’s coming to fill the void or join the Raiders, it naturally rubs off on them.”

Heading into 2024, Proserpine-Whitsunday will have to fill its most significant void yet, with Houston ready to start his next chapter.

“That was my swan song… I’ve gotta go and have a crack,” he said.

“There’s 188 countries that play rugby, I’ve only coached in one. If I can go and explore the world and be around Europe and coach and understand different cultures while I can, it would be silly for me not to.

“For my wife and I to go just cruising around and coach, that’d be huge.”

Karla (left) has been a significant part of André's journey with the Raiders. Picture: Supplied

Houston’s next step is returning to his hometown in New Zealand, Shannon, one he’s been away from for 28 years. He hopes to coach the local union side while he’s there.

But whatever the future has in store for André and Karla, the pair will cherish the time they had with the Proserpine-Whitsunday Raiders.

It’s safe to assume that many of Houston’s players will too.

“I think it’s going to be a moment when I go onto my next chapter when it will really hit,” Houston said, emotion twisting its way through his words.

“The boys were all sitting around just reminiscing about the times we’ve had… just like ‘man, this is the third time we’ve been in a grand final.’

“These are 22 year olds, 21 year olds, having these conversations. To sit there and to hear them say that, it makes me real proud… no one’s ever guaranteed to make a grand final again.

“It’s been a special time for myself to come into a small community and create a legacy with these young men. Some of them are born and bred Proserpinians.

“For us to celebrate something so big from a small community, these moments will be remembered in our lives forever.”