David Elliott coaching Mackay Cutters ‘a pleasure’ after tough upbringing

Chasing after cattle and loading hay into trucks as a 10 year old built the foundations of a strong work ethic and a passion to succeed in football. Now a farm boy’s dream to become a head coach is reality.

Growing up chasing after cattle across his parents’ farm in Goomeri, David Elliott is used to long days of physical labour.

The small, country-town kid who grew up with a love of rugby league never caved into the hard work that came with working for his parents.

“I loved working with the cattle, but working with lucerne hay kind of sucked,” he said.

“There’s a lot of physical labour, cutting, lifting, baling hay, you could move up to two truckloads of hay a day and I was about 10, maybe 12 at the time.

“It was hard, but it’s given me a strong work ethic, going to the gym or long days of training now isn’t hard work for me.”

David Elliott will be Mackay Cutters' head coach for the 2022 QRL season. Picture: Matthew Forrest

The new Mackay Cutters coach, who enjoyed a successful stint in Townsville with the Blackhawks under-21s team, uses his upbringing as a reminder of what hard times actually are.

Elliott said sport was never a priority growing up.

“We worked harder than young people probably should, but that’s just what we did, dad came from nothing and mum didn’t have much,” he said.

“Coming from that family background has set my foundations of who I am.

“Sport was not a priority for them, but footy was one thing my parents always tried to make time for me.”

After stints in Toowoomba, Brisbane and Townsville, Elliott will head his first QRL senior side after his involvement in consistently successful programs.

David Elliott will be Mackay Cutters' head coach for the 2022 QRL season. Picture: Matthew Forrest

Despite only getting his first senior gig in 2022, Elliott said he had loved the ups and downs in his career.

“It’s always been a pleasure, and that’s why I’ve always stuck at it even though I have missed out on roles I had applied for,” he said.

“The love of the game and the reasons why I do it keep me in it.

“I’m a big believer in it is what you make of it, so if you get enough blokes on board and believing in what you’re doing then it becomes easy.

“The character of the group sets the foundations of what you are trying to achieve.”

Originally published as David Elliott coaching Mackay Cutters ‘a pleasure’ after tough upbringing