Best senior Coach of the Year Award goes down to the wire in dramatic finish
Cairns Brothers captain-coach Jordan Biondi-Odo and Cairns Hockey coach Jeanene Lynam took it down to the wire in a dramatic finish for the Cairns Coach of the Year Award. FIND OUT how close it was and who won here.
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It all came down to the very final minute as the Cairns Coach of the Year Award was decided by the barest of margins.
In the final hours of voting, Cairns Brothers rugby league captain-coach Jordan Biondi-Odo led Cairns Hockey coach Jeanene Lynam by just one vote.
Both coaches received 21 votes each late Friday afternoon, ultimately with Biondi-Odo claiming the award with 58 votes, just one ahead of Lynam.
Brothers Head of Coaching Tim Rumford said it was a great achievement for someone who was unsure about coaching.
“It is an incredible achievement for Jordy and for the club to be recognised,” Rumford said.
“Jordy came to us and wasn’t overly keen on playing and coaching especially because these players are his peers, they are all in the friendship group.
“But credit to him, he has done really well as a leader, he has taken it all on board and in his stride and he has achieved success along with the club.
“He came to us at the end of 2020, the following year we finished minor premiers and then we won the next three all while he has been leading us.”
A total of 337 people voted for this years Coach of the Year with Biondi-Odo (58), Lynam (57) and North Cairns Tigers women’s coach Luana Healey (38) taking up 45 per cent of the votes.
Biondi-Odo is more than just a playing-coach at Brothers, the 31-year-old looks after more than just the seniors group.
“Jordy is always putting his hand up to help out, whether it be the juniors or the all inclusions stuff we do,” Rumford said.
“It is credit to the type of person he is, he works with me and has helped me a lot.
“I know he would be pretty honoured to claim this award, the club is truly proud of him and to win it by one vote is incredible.”
Second placed Jeanene Lynam congratulated Biondi-Odo but was honoured to even get the nomination.
“It is great to see hockey get the coverage it’s deserved as well, not just me,” Lynam said.
“I was once told I was a development coach, not a winning coach and I can see that angle.
“I came into coaching when the Saints were struggling in 2013, then we developed our players and won it in 2014.
“Then I moved coaching around a bit with juniors and women's and then back to the men’s again.
“I think that is really important, not to just stay coaching with one group but to give you the chance to develop yourself as well.”
Cairns City Lions women’s coach Jason Wray finished fourth with 33 votes and Centrals Trinity Beach Bulldogs women’s coach Dan Smith finished fifth with 26 votes.
See the final results from all coaches below.
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