CQ Capras will tackle Western Clydesdales in Round 1 of Hostplus Cup, BMD Premiership

Men’s coach Lionel Harbin is impressed by the effort of his players during the first weeks of pre-season training. He identifies two young guns pressing their case for Q-Cup selection next year.

The CQ Capras are into their fifth week of pre-season training.

The CQ Capras men’s and women’s rugby league teams will hit the road for their opening games of the 2024 Hostplus Cup and BMD Premiership competitions.

They will head to Toowoomba to take on the Western Clydesdales on Saturday, March 9.

The Lionel Harbin-coached men’s outfit will play at 3pm, while the women under new coach Julyess Jarvis will kick-off at noon.

The Clydesdales, along with the Sunshine Coast Falcons, are new to an expanded women’s competition, which next year will boast 10 teams.

The men’s competition again has 15 clubs who will each play 20 games across 24 rounds in the fight to qualify for the top eight and ultimately the grand final at Redcliffe’s Kayo Stadium.

The Capras men have made the finals series for the past two seasons, with Harbin the first coach in the club’s history to achieve that.

CQ Capras' head coach Lionel Harbin. Photo: Luke Fletcher

He is excited for 2024, buoyed by the effort and hard work he has seen from his troops, who are five weeks into their pre-season.

“They’ve trained really hard. They just need to finish it off this week before a well-earned break over Christmas,” he said.

“All the coaches are doing a good job to make us better than we were this year.

“The squad is coming together well but there’s a couple of pieces to add, which will probably happen in the New Year.”

The Capras have lost four key forwards, with Nixon Putt joining the Castleford Tigers in the English Super League, Tyler Szepanowski signing with the Burleigh Bears, Nicholas Halalilo off to the Townsville Blackhawks and Bailey Butler on a train and trial with the Brisbane Broncos.

Maea Mitchell (right) has impressed coach Lionel Harbin during pre-season training. Picture: Kevin Farmer

Harbin said their exits would open the door for new talent, including some of the Capras’ own underage players.

Among them are Maea Mitchell and Selemaia Taungahihifo, who played with the under-21s this year and were looking to press for Cup selection next year.

The Capras won their first six games this year, their best ever start to a season.

They will be keen to get 2024 off to a winning start when they tackle the Clydesdales but Harbin knows they will be a tough prospect.

“It will be their second year back in the competition and I think they’ll be better for it,” he said.

“It was a tough game when we played them down there this year and I don’t expect anything different .

“For us, it’s about how we played at that time of the year. It’s not so much about who we play, but rather what we need to focus on and what we can control.”