Mathew Seamark’s decision to stay at Wynnum Manly validated with club’s games record

HE worried if he had made the right decision by joining Wynnum Manly in 2008 but Mathew Seamark is now breaking records at the club.

New Wynnum Manly Seagulls games record holder Mathew Seamark. Picture: ELISE SEARSON

MATHEW Seamark contemplated if he had made the right decision when he switched to the Wynnum Manly Seagulls from arch rivals Redcliffe in 2008.

In his first two seasons with the Seagulls, the Townsville product had played only a handful of games.

But the halfback, who is small in stature but tough on the field, said the move proved to be one of the best decisions he had made.

Seamark in one of his 174 games with the Seagulls.

That belief was further validated at the weekend when Seamark passed good friend Luke Dalziel-Don to become Wynnum Manly’s new games record holder with 174 appearances at the senior level in the team’s 18-4 loss in Papua New Guinea at the weekend.

“I knew this was a place I wanted to be at for a long time when Paul Green took over in 2010 ... but I never thought I would achieve anything like this,” Seamark said.

“I’m just privileged to have played so many games for a great club which has been so great to me as well.

“To also pass Luke is pretty cool as well. He was a great captain who led us to back-to-back premierships in 2011 and 2012, and we are able to have a laugh about it now.”

The 29-year-old has put together an impressive career which included two Intrust Super Cup premierships with the Seagulls and also playing six games for Wales at the international level.

But Seamark said he could not go past the back-to-back titles in 2011 and 2012 as his career highlights.

“That was just a special time for everyone involved in the club,” he said.

“It was a great achievement and something the Seagulls had not done before but it made it even more special that I was able to do it with some great mates. Those memories I will remember for a long time.”

Despite sitting 12th on the Intrust Super Cup ladder, the Seagulls are just five points away from the top-six and Seamark said he believed they could still play finals and do damage at the business end of the season.

“If we play the type of football we’re capable of, like we did when we won five in a row earlier in the season, we believe we can match it with anyone, we just need to put it together,” he said.

The Wynnum Manly Seagulls have a bye this weekend.