Skipper Jack Madden thrilled with long-awaited victory

‘Finally we found a way to win, even though we were down a player for about 30 minutes.’

CQ Capras skipper Jack Madden: “It was such a good feeling getting the win. It’s been a long time coming.”

The CQ Capras showed plenty of courage as they scored their first win of the 2021 Intrust Super Cup season on Sunday.

They ran out 30-22 winners over the Brisbane Tigers in front of a parochial crowd at Gladstone’s Marley Brown Oval in the Activate! Queensland Country Week clash.

It was an inspired performance, given they played the best part of the second half a man down after centre Nathan Bassani was sent off in the 48th minute.

Coach Guy Williams also had to make a last-minute reshuffle with centre Jake Maizen injuring his ankle in the pre-game warm-up.

Skipper Jack Madden labelled it one of the gutsiest efforts from the Capras that he’d been involved with.

“It was great. It was such a good feeling getting the win,” he said.

“It’s been a long time coming. We’ve been in a lot of games this year and finally we found a way to win, even though we were down a player for about 30 minutes.

CQ Capras’ fullback Blake Moore was at his brilliant best, named Player of the Match. Photo: Brendan Kirkman

“Everyone from one through to 17, probably for the first time this year, did their job and that’s why we got the result.

“Our forwards really stood up there in the second half when we were under the pump. They were gassed but they kept turning up for each other.

“All the players dug in and did it for one another, and the crowd definitely helped.”

Madden said fullback Blake Moore was a deserving Player of the Match after he scored one try, had a hand in two others and landed two conversions and a penalty.

He also made special mention of front rower Bailey Butler who, he said, was getting better with every game.

Winger Cooper Marshall and Madden both crossed for tries in the first half but the Capras went to the break trailing 16-12.

Moore, Jedidiah Simbiken and Jack Pattie scored in the second half to seal the memorable victory.

Madden said the players would take a lot from the long-awaited win.

“You could feel it after the game - everyone was very happy and excited and that will transfer into our training and our games moving forward,” he said.

“It will give us a big boost and put a real spring in our step.

“We’ll get plenty of belief and confidence out of it.”