’We want to build a dynasty’

Season 2019 will not be a one-off for the North Mackay Saints, if their coach has his way.

Craig Jenkins will stay on as North Mackay Saints senior coach for season 2020.

EVEN after engineering a historic dual-premiership season at North Mackay, Craig Jenkins still felt he was not the right man to lead the Saints into season 2020.

He was the only one.

The man who masterminded the Saints’ A-Grade and Reserve Grade triumphs last season was told in no uncertain terms by the playing group and club stakeholders he was still wanted, no needed, at Zeolla Park.

“A lot of the boys got behind me and basically said ‘you’d be stupid not to go around again’, but in nicer terms,” Jenkins said.

With his backing confirmed, the question for the coach then became, where to next?

“I guess that’s the challenge in front of me at the moment – it’s a hard question,” he said.

The Saints will officially start pre-season tomorrow, with an eye to the Central Queensland Cup clash against powerhouse Yeppoon Swans at the end of February

After an undefeated A-Grade campaign and near-flawless Reserve Grade season, the Saints left little wiggle room to improve – but Jenkins is still confident they can.

“The motivation is everyone enjoys winning. Premierships are what you play football for,” he said.

“We want to start a dynasty. One that people will talk about for the next 10, 20 years.”

Last season’s breakthrough triumph – the Saints’ first A-Grade flag in 11 years – held a lot of personal significance to Jenkins.

But more than that, it was the feeling of achieving the goal with many who had never tasted senior success which he relished the most.

“Ninety per cent of that team, and through the Ressies, had never won a senior premiership before,” Jenkins said.

“It’s great to be a premiership-winning coach. But I think I took more enjoyment out of … allowing blokes to retire with one finally under their belt.”

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