North Queensland Cowboys’ Reuben Cotter voted the best Sarina Crocs rugby league player of all time

The readers have spoken, and Reuben Cotter has been named the greatest ever export from Sarina rugby league. Find out his thoughts on being named alongside the likes of Wendell Sailor and Dale Shearer.

North Queensland Cowboys skipper Reuben Cotter has been named by our readers as the greatest ever Sarina rugby league export. (Photo by Ian Hitchcock/Getty Images)

The public has spoken, Reuben Cotter has been voted Sarina’s greatest ever rugby league export, receiving 20% of the total of almost 350 voters.

The North Queensland Cowboys’ co-captain is a born and bred league footballer from the Mackay region who played his junior footy with the Crocs, before going through the Cowboys program all the way through to the top level.

“It’s obviously a big honour, it’s pretty special to be recognised by the public for what I’ve achieved,” Cotter said.

Cotter beat out numerous players with storied careers at the top level to come out of Sarina, including the likes of Wendell Sailor, Kevin Campion, Martin Bella and Dale Shearer.

Wendell Sailor is another rugby league legend who has pulled on a Sarina Crocs jersey. Picture: David/Kapernick

“I got to watch the likes of Wendell Sailor on TV when I was growing up, I heard a lot about the likes of Dale Shearer and Kevin Campion,” he said.

“I got to know Martin Bella a little bit as I was coming through, he was doing some physio work with the club.

“Those guys are some of the all time greats, so it’s pretty awesome to be in their company. It’s a privilege.”

Cotter said he looks back on his time with the Crocs with very fond memories.

“I played with the Crocs starting back in under-8s, I loved the club and I loved growing up there,” he said.

“It was a great place to be, lots of stuff to do outdoors with fishing, camping, but football was sort of the centrepiece of Sarina and what it has to offer.

“It’s a very passionate community, they love their rugby league, and the whole town gets behind the Crocodiles.

“I remember rocking up on a Saturday and sometimes playing in the older age group with my older brothers, sometimes half the team wouldn’t show up so they needed the numbers but we just sort of did our best with it.”

Poll

As Sarina Crocs celebrate their 100th anniversary, it’s time to reflect on the players who have defined the club over its long and celebrated story.

With players included from back in the 1940s and 50s all the way through to the present, take a look at the 50+ names on the list and vote for who you think the very best is.

This list was curated by members of the Sarina Rugby League Football Club.

*Due to a publishing oversight NRL, State of Origin and Australian representative Dale Shearer was initially not included on this list. He has since been included.

Sarina Crocodiles 2015 A-Grade captain Lain Wyper