Moranbah Miners coach Josh Stowers speaks on the impact of ex-NRL signing Chris McQueen

Moranbah Miners are off to a red hot start in the RLMD 2025 season. Find out how they downed a Souths outfit loaded with ex-NRL talent, and read how their own huge signing has impacted the season so far

Chris McQueen (centre) during the Gold Coast Titans training session on the Gold Coast, Wednesday, July 19, 2017. (AAP Image/Dave Hunt) NO ARCHIVING

Moranbah Miners are as hot as any team in local footy at the moment, sitting atop the Rugby League Mackay and District ladder with three wins from three matches this season.

Fresh off of a big win over last year’s runners-up Brothers 22-4 and preliminary finalists Mackay Magpies 34-10, the Miners went into Shark Park and knocked off a club that many had pegged as a dominant favourite to win the comp this year.

With ex-NRL talent like Manu Ma’u and Sam Kasiano in their side, plus plenty of local talent including Maika Tudravu and Augustus Rangihuana, the Sharks present as a fearsome opposition for any of the local sides.

It was a close battle, but eventually the Miners prevailed 18-16. If the league wasn’t already on notice about what Josh Stowers’ team is capable of, they surely will be now.

Josh Stowers (pictured in Townsville Blackhawks gear) has led Moranbah Miners to a fantastic start in its 2025 RLMD campaign. Picture: Matt Taylor.

“We knew it was going to be tough, and with the calibre of players they’ve got I was a little starstruck myself,” Stowers said.

“I grew up watching those guys, I was trying to get some autographs after the game but I didn’t manage to get any.

“We knew we would have to play the full 80 minutes to get the win over them.

“Sides like Souths and Brothers just never go away.

“I think it’s given us, and maybe some other clubs as well, belief that if we play as a team we can beat them.”

The Miners have a big name recruit of their own in tow, as former South Sydney Rabbitoh, Gold Coast Titan and Wests Tiger with more than 150 games of NRL experience Chris McQueen presents an imposing figure in their second row.

Rabbitoh's Chris McQueen tackled by Shark's Michael Ennis and was then put on report during the NRL finals game between the Cronulla Sharks and the South Sydney Rabbitohs at Allianz Stadium .Picture Gregg Porteous

“Chris has been so awesome, he’s come into the squad and just been part of the crew, but when he talks everyone listens, myself included,” Stowers said

“It’s good when you have a quality player like that for the rest of the squad to learn off.

“Beyond that his energy at training and how he carries himself, he’s just a really good bloke.”

He said while the hot start has been phenomenal, him and the rest of the club realise that road only gets trickier from here.

“We’re 3-0 now, and being on top means that other teams are going to be coming for us and trying to knock us off our perch, so we have to be ready for that.

“It comes with the territory, we just have to celebrate the win and move on to the next game against ‘Prossie’ (Whitsunday Brahmans).

“It’s a waste of time beating a strong side if you don’t back it up the following week.

“We’ve had a few new boys from last year, but everyone has bought in to what we’re trying to do.

“The focus hasn’t been on trying to be flash, it’s been on getting stuck in and enjoying the grind.”

The Miners host the Brahmans at Darryl Bourke Oval this Saturday in round 5 of the RLMD season.

Originally published as Moranbah Miners coach Josh Stowers speaks on the impact of ex-NRL signing Chris McQueen