’G’day, Bob Katter here’: The phone call that convinced Cairns rugby league mentor to enter politics

A Far North rugby league coach will play his own brand of political football at this state election with the left field candidate kicking off his campaign in a key electorate.

KAP candidate Steve Lesina has worked with the Northern Pride junior development program in recent years. Picture: Samuel Davis

A Far North rugby league coach will play his own brand of political football at this state election with the left-field candidate set to kick off his campaign in a key electorate next week.

Bentley Park College PE teacher Steven Lesina will tackle Member for Mulgrave Curtis Pitt as part of Katter’s Australian Party, with KAP leader Robbie Katter confirming the mentor would be on the ballot this October.

As previously reported, it is expected that the LNP will formally announce Cairns Regional Council’s Division One councillor Brett Moller soon.

Mr Katter said Mr Lesina’s values and history of grassroots work within the community made him a strong contender for the Far North seat.

“Steve is born and bred in the electorate and in touch with youth issues as a teacher and through his involvement in rugby league,” the Member for Traeger said.

“He has a history of volunteering and putting his hand up for the community.”

The 30-year-old teacher’s father, Kelvin Lesina said his son had always been “very community-oriented” and held high hopes for his political campaign.

“I’m not very political myself, but I’m not surprised Steven’s put his hand up - if he’s asked to do anything to support the community or a community event, nine times out of 10 he’s in,” the elder Lesina said.

“Just recently he was very active with the Pyramid race.

“I know anything he puts his mind to - he goes all in on so I don’t know how well he’ll go, but I know he’ll give it everything.

“Fighting for Mulgrave is going to be tough, with the two major parties, but Steve can be very determined.”

Mr Lesina comes from a politically active family.

Former ALP state candidate Kirsten Lesina at an election after-party at Brothers League Club in 2012 with former Member for Cairns, Desley Boyle.

In 2008, his cousin, Kirsten Lesina, made history when she became the youngest person to be elected to council in Cairns at the age of 21.

After being pre-selected for the ALP for the seat of Cairns, Ms Lesina lost to the LNP’s Gavin King in 2012, ending a century of consecutive ALP candidates holding the Far North seat.

Mulgrave has been dominated by Labor’s father-son duo of Warren and Curtis Pitt for more than a quarter of a century, with the latter rising to the position of Treasurer from 2015 to 2017.

The younger Mr Pitt is the current Speaker of Parliament and was first elected in 2009.

Member for Kennedy, Bob Katter courted new KAP candidate for Mulgrave Steven Lesina over the phone.

Mr Lesina, who represented Thailand in three international rugby league games, said he was shocked to receive a phone call from Member for Kennedy, Bob Katter, asking him to consider a tilt at politics.

“I thought it was a mate playing a prank,” he said.

“But the longer I listened I thought, ‘No. This is actually Bob Katter’.

“I got into teaching to make a difference and that’s a big thing for me. I’m young, energetic and I think it’s time for a change.”

Originally published as ’G’day, Bob Katter here’: The phone call that convinced Cairns rugby league mentor to enter politics