Mahe Fonua set to bolster Mackay Cutters as they look to bounce back from rough season

The Cutters have signed an international star who has more than 200 combined NRL and Super League appearances. Here is why coach Michael Comerford is so excited.

Mahe Fonua has featured for Wests Tigers and Melbourne Storm at NRL level. Picture: AAP Image/Dan Himbrechts

The Mackay Cutters have landed a major recruiting coup, securing the services of Tongan international Mahe Fonua for the next two seasons.

Fonua will bring a plethora of experience to Mackay, with 131 Super League games, 71 NRL games, and six internationals for Tonga under his belt.

Fonua was most recently playing with Castleford Tigers in England’s Super League.

Coach Michael Comerford revealed the move came about thanks to Fonua’s “longstanding connection” with current Cutters CEO Mitch Cook and head of football Kim Williams, which date back to Fonua’s under-20 days at the Melbourne Storm.

Mackay’s Head of Football Kim Williams (left) and CEO Mitch Cook (right) were instrumental in the recruitment of Fonua.

“That’s where it started and that connection led to conversations starting, Mahe’s at a point in his career where he’s looking to come back to Australia so it all kind of matched up well,” Comerford said.

“The Cutters ended up being the place that could offer him and his family - well for him the on-field opportunities - but the chance to set themselves up away from professional footy.”

As for what 30-year-old Fonua will bring to the Cutters, Comerford is most excited by his experience.

“There’s definitely been a void in our squad this year with that top-end experience not coming back this year,” he said.

“That’s one area that we’ve identified that we needed to bolster up, just having guys that have been through year in year out footy at a higher level and that’s what Mahe’s going to bring for us.”

Mahe Fonua in action for Wests back in 2019. Picture: AAP Image/Darren Pateman

Comerford also believes Fonua will be a valuable asset to Mackay’s style of play.

“Specifically, that power out wide, having a power game in the outside backs, and a try-scoring ability is something that’s invaluable at any level of footy,” he said.

“(Fonua brings) strong yardage carry out of our own end, that’s a massive part of the game at the moment, something we’ll definitely be looking for from him.

“He’s got a pretty high try-scoring strike rate as well.

“Our attack has struggled at times this year, just with the ability to occasionally have that moment of individual brilliance or power that can get us over the line, that’s definitely something he’s built his game around, scoring from kicks and close-range and finishing tries.”

It’s been a tough Queensland Cup season for the Cutters, who have yielded just two wins from 18 games.

Comerford revealed there’s going to be a big off-season focus on stability and player retention.

Hiale Roycroft will be with the Cutters until at least 2025, providing what Comerford believes is some much-needed stability. Picture: Michaela Harlow

The services of second-rower Hiale Roycroft have already been secured for a further two seasons.

“It’s been a pretty disrupted three or four year period for a lot of these players, with Covid, the Cutters have had a pretty high turnover of coaching staff, players,” Comerford said.

“To finally have a chance to build on something, have stability around the club is a huge opportunity.”

“To be able to announce someone of Mahe’s calibre coming to the club at this time of year shows that things are heading in a positive direction.”

Originally published as Mahe Fonua set to bolster Mackay Cutters as they look to bounce back from rough season