Proserpine-Whitsunday to face Moranbah in Mackay Rugby Union grand final

Having featured in four grand finals together, Andre Houston and Te Awa King are now set to face off as opposing coaches, but there’s no tension between the pair. Find out why.

Proserpine Whitsunday’s Laki Faataape in action. Will the Raiders prevail in their third consecutive grand final? Picture: Supplied.

Andre Houston and Te Awa King featured in four Mackay Rugby Union grand finals together for the Proserpine-Whitsunday Raiders.

The pair won two and lost two.

But this Saturday they’ll be on differing sides of the result, pitted against each other as opposing grand final coaches, with King now at the helm of the Moranbah Bulls.

Raiders coach Houston reveals there’ll be no tension between the two, despite the high stakes when their sides meet at 4pm at BB Print Stadium.

“It’s just mutual respect between he and I and that’s how it will go moving forward for the rest of our lives,” Houston said.

“We actually express ourselves to each other, we say we love each other, we’re friends forever.

“I’m looking forward to seeing him on Saturday and we’ll hug each other and embrace each other and wish each other good luck.”

Proserpine-Whitsunday’s Rhys Ward in action. The Raiders are gunning for their third premiership in seven seasons. Picture: Supplied

A 23-11 triumph over Kuttabul saw minor premiers Proserpine-Whitsunday secure its place in the decider.

Houston was pleased with his side’s performance.

“It was very clinical from the boys, our defence really set the platform for us,” he said.

“We’re not the biggest team in the competition, but we definitely had heart and that’s what showed on the day.”

The Raiders forward pack in particular caught the coach’s eye.

“There’s a few of them who stood up… even though we were getting pushed back our front row really controlled things around the tight area of the game,” Houston said.

“Without the forwards it would’ve been harder to manage. I think our tight five would’ve been standouts of the game.

“Our back row was good around the field defensively to shut any of their line breaks down.”

Saturday’s decider is evenly poised, with the Raiders having clinched the minor premiership, before they fell to second-place Moranbah 16-10 in the first week of finals.

The Raiders’ Luke Rae-Howard, victory on Saturday would see them move to outright second on the Mackay Rugby Union Championship list with eight titles. Picture: Supplied

Houston believes Proserpine-Whitsunday won’t have to change much if it’s to turn the tables.

“Got to make the small things count, make the most of the opportunities when they arise, the small one-percent things have got to be clinical,” Houston said.

“There’s multiple things in the game of rugby. It’s like a game of chess you’re not going to have one move to finish things off, you’ve got to plan ahead and think ahead and just always adapt and make calls and come up with solutions.

“If there’s something that doesn’t go right, you problem solve fast and keep moving forward.”

Regardless of the end result, it’s been a remarkable season for the Bulls, who claimed the wooden spoon last year and endured an 85-5 loss at the hands of the Raiders.

Houston can’t speak highly enough of the turnaround under his close friend’s stewardship.

“(King’s) done a very good job, that’s something I’ve always been talking to him about,” he said.

“I’m proud of him… they’ve pulled a good group together so well done for being able to build the culture.

“I think Moranbah will be rapt about their achievements.”

Originally published as Proserpine-Whitsunday to face Moranbah in Mackay Rugby Union grand final