Mitch Sargent ready to lead inaugural Clydesdales side

Western Clydesdales BMD Premiership coach Mitch Sargent will etch his name in Queensland Rugby League history when his side hosts the CQ Capras on Saturday. Check out his inspiring story here.

Western Clydesdales BMD coach Mitch Sargent. Picture: Zain Mohammed/QRL.

He won’t make a single tackle or throw a pass but when Mitch Sargent walks out onto Toowoomba Sports Ground this Saturday he will ensure his place among the Western Clydesdales greats.

Taking the coaching reins in the Clydesdales inaugural BMD Premiership campaign will be a major milestone in his inspiring journey.

“(It is) a really proud moment,” Sargent said.

“Personally to coach this team in the first ever game, it is something that I probably wouldn’t have thought would have happened a fair few years ago.

“But there has been a lot of hard work not only from myself but through a lot of good people to get the women’s game locally and in South West Queensland to where it is now.

“The team is not only for us, it is for all the people who have and continue to put in the hard work to get the game where it is, so that is what I’m most proud of.”

Sargent’s journey came from humble beginnings, as he began his career as an NRL game development officer in Kingaroy.

“I spent two to three years based there, running school programs, bringing new kids to the game, doing coaching courses and from there I moved back home and did the same thing,” he said.

“I worked with the NRL for six or seven years and through that time I first started in women’s sport, I was out in South Burnett and they needed an under-11s schoolgirls coach because no one wanted to do it back then.

“I put my hand up and I could just really tell how much the girls loved playing rugby league and right there and then I sort of changed my career goals.

“I wanted to give back and help provide the same opportunity for young girls as what the boys were getting and I thought my experience and knowledge could really help the women’s game.”

The chance encounter at a South Burnett school kickstarted a domino effect with him taking on various roles through Queensland Rugby League before ultimately being appointed as the inaugural head coach of the Western Clydesdales BMD Premiership team.

Western Clydesdales BMD Premiership players (from left) Tess Littleton, Taylor Fenton and Caitlin Nolan. Picture: Kevin Farmer

“It speaks volume of where the game has come, no matter who you are, it gives you an opportunity,” Sargent said.

“If you have a dream, pursue it, whether that’s as a player, as a match official, as a coach, our game provides that and if you are willing to put in the hard work and effort, it will definitely pay dividends if you take the opportunity.”

Sargent is eager to develop as a coach with the Clydesdales and believes the new challenges he will face this season, will help him progress further.

“The unique thing about coaching this team is obviously you have very experienced players that play at an international, state and NRLW level and then all the way down to girls that are playing rugby league for the first time,” he said.

“So the difference between experience is quite unique and learning as a coach to be able to manage and help support players that are across different stages in their career is so important and every single player has helped me.

“I am still learning every day to be the best I can be as a coach for the team and into the future and this experience will definitely help me into my future coaching career.”

The star-studded Clydesdales BMD Premiership team will lock horns with the Central Queensland Capras at Clive Berghofer Stadium this Saturday with kick-off at 1.25pm.