CQ Capras’ captain Jack Madden misses start of 2023 pre-season training after hip surgery in October

Capras skipper Jack Madden reveals why he’s been on the sidelines for the pre-Christmas training sessions and opens up about the team’s goals for next year.

Halfback Jack Madden will captain the CQ Capras for a sixth consecutive season in 2023. Photo: Luke Fletcher

The start of the CQ Capras’ 2023 pre-season training has been very different for Jack Madden.

The team captain is recovering from hip surgery and has been forced to watch on as his squad mates endured six weeks of gruelling sessions before their well-earned Christmas break.

The players will return to training on January 5, keen to hit the ground running as they prepare for their historic pre-season trial against the Dolphins in Gladstone on February 4.

Madden said his operation in early October was a result of “wear and tear” from more than 20 years of playing the game.

“The last two months of the season it went proper down south, it wasn’t good at all,” he said.

Jack Madden, who is recovering from hip surgery, will captain the Capras for a sixth consecutive year in 2023. Photo: Brendan Kirkman

“It’s all a bit of a process. They reckon three months but I’ll see how I go when I get back from the break.

“It’s getting better now. I’m back doing a bit of running; it’s on the mend and heading in the right direction so that’s the main thing.

“It definitely is hard sitting on the sidelines but it is what it is, that’s what I’ve got to do.

“It’s been good for some other boys, like Trey Brown and Blake Moore, to step up and show some leadership around the group.”

Halfback Madden, who will captain the Capras for his sixth year in 2023, is happy with how the squad has come together.

CQ Capras’ head coach Lionel Harbin (left) with skipper Jack Madden.

The club has retained a good part of the 2022 group, which made it to the finals for just the third time in the 26-year history of the Q-Cup.

“It’s shaping up really well, I’ve been really impressed with some of the new fellas here,” Madden said.

“We’ve got a lot of local boys who have been away to other clubs and have come back, which is great for us and the region.

“We’ve lost a few players but (head coach) Lionel Harbin and the staff have got some quality players in and I think they will do a good job for us and we look like we’re definitely going to have a strong team next year.”

Among the returning players are Larson Dale-Doyle, who is back from the Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs, and Aaron Moore (Townsville Blackhawks) who will reunite with his brother Blake.

Aaron Moore has returned to Rockhampton and is teaming up with the CQ Capras for season 2023. Photo: Luke Fletcher

Those leaving include lock Jamie Hill and five-eighth Radean Robinson, who is headed to the Souths Logan Magpies after representing Italy at the recent Rugby League World Cup.

The Capras went from wooden spooners in 2021 to fifth this year in the 14-team competition but Madden said they weren’t going to rest on their laurels.

“We’ve had a great year this year but, in saying that, we have to start all over again and the boys understand that,” he said.

“We want to be a successful side year in, year out. We’re not just settling for what we did this year - we want to go better and we believe we can go better and that’s what we’re looking to do next year.”