Tributes flow for beloved Brisbane, Cairns rugby coach Andrew ‘Paddo’ Derrington

A beloved club rugby coach who made his mark in both Brisbane and Cairns has been laid to rest, with family and players praising his courage and zest for life after a whirlwind illness.

Andrew "Paddo'' Derrington has been remembered as a brave, loving man and outstanding member of the Easts rugby family. Picture: East Rugby Union/Facebook

A beloved club rugby coach who made his mark in both Brisbane and Cairns has been laid to rest, with family and players praising his courage and zest for life.

Easts Rugby and Churchie junior player and Cairns Mudcrabs coach Andrew “Paddo’’ Derrington battled brain cancer with his trademark bravery but sadly succumbed after a seven-month illness, aged just 54.

His brother Joshua said they first noticed something was wrong following a skiing trip.

“It was a short, brutal battle. We were snow skiing together in January and his first real symptoms emerged at Easter this year,’’ he said.

“In true Andrew fashion, he managed to attract the most aggressive of brain cancers (Grade 4 Glioblastoma).

“However, he fought gallantly right to the very end. He never gave up, in true Paddo fashion — he was brave beyond words.’’

Andrew "Paddo'' Derrington has been remembered as a brave, loving man and outstanding member of the Easts rugby family. Picture: East Rugby Union/Facebook

Although he spent much of his youth in Brisbane as a boarder at Churchie, where he played in its First IV, he chose to leave the big city life and move his family back home to Cairns to be in a smaller community.

Mr Derrington said his brother eschewed material things, instead focusing on building a well-rounded family.

“Paddo taught me to not take myself too seriously and prioritise family before busyness,’’ he said.

“He taught me to be a ‘coach’ and not a disciplinarian.

“His loyalty was almost corrosively intense. He would very genuinely do anything for you if he determined you worthy.’’

He said his brother was the “perfect balance’’ of clown, coach and consultant.

“He was also an excellent rugby brain and exceptional coach — firm but fair, with the ability to truly mentor younger kids through the system,’’ he said.

“He appreciated that a team required all different types and backed himself to get more out of others that others could.’’

“Paddo’’ coached at Easts for six years, from 2002 to 2007, earning the club the 2003 Third Grade Premiership, before returning to Cairns with his wife Anita and their three children.

Andrew Derrington pictured at the time he took up coaching the Mudcrabs. Picture: Stewart McLean

His family and friends have now set up Paddo’s Foundation as a legacy for her late husband and to help in the fight against brain cancer.

His sister, Rebecca Derrington, said during her brother’s fight he refused to let cancer define him, or give up on the hope that he could recover.

“He threw everything he could at it, enduring an intensive program of radiation alongside ongoing chemotherapy, with each dose increasing in intensity and debilitating side effects,’’ she said.

“Never one to shirk a challenge, he simply accepted the prescribed treatments and battled on, fighting both the cancer and a pulmonary embolism in the process.’’

She said her brother came to realise the extra challenges patients in regional areas faced.

That prompted the idea to start the foundation, to raise funds for both fund cancer research and to help connect regional and rural families experiencing brain cancer with the best support team.

Ms Derrington said Paddo contracted Covid, which appeared to accelerate the tumour’s growth in the month before he died on November 9.

James McDonald said Paddo coached the Easts team which Mr McDonald captained to a premiership win in 2005.

Paddo on the field as assistant coach for the Cairns Thunder at West Barlow Park.

“We had a close relationship during that year. Paddo was a great coach who loved the club and his players,’’ he said.

“He knew just what to say and when to say it. If a bloke needed an arm around the shoulder or just some low key advice, then Paddo would be there.

“He had a calming demeanour and always had a smile on his face.

“He coached a few teams in various grades over the year,s so not many blokes at the time hadn’t had something to do with him.’’

John Deitz was so moved by his friend’s battle that he has pledged to walk the length of the Gold Coast, from Paradise Point to Coolangatta or just over 40km.

“I knew him since 2019 through his son Will who was in the Gold Coast Suns Academy in Cairns,’’ he said.

“He was just a genuine person who had great values and cared about everyone he came into contact with.’’

Originally published as Tributes flow for beloved Brisbane, Cairns rugby coach Andrew ‘Paddo’ Derrington