Courtesy of the Mackay Daily Mercury
After transforming the Souths Logan Magpies from Queensland Cup cellar-dwellers to competition frontrunners, it was the opportunity for a new challenge that attracted coach Paul Bramley to the Mackay Cutters.
Bramley was officially announced as the Skills Training Mackay Cutters' coach for 2010 at the club's awards function last night, while Jardine Bobongie was honoured as the Cutters' Harvey World Travel player of the year and also the sponsors' player of the year.
Bramley takes over the coaching reins from Shane Muspratt, who will return to the playing ranks next season.
His post as Cutters' coach will see him link up again with North Queensland Cowboys mentor Neil Henry, who was previously at the Canberra Raiders - the NRL team affiliated with Souths Logan.
“I've got a good relationship with Neil and I was looking for a new challenge,” Bramley said of his decision to take the Cutters' job.
“I'd probably gone as far I as could with Souths... I saw the Cutters as a similar challenge.”
After finishing second last in 2007, the Magpies won the premiership in 2008 and were minor premiers this season but fell one game short of the grand final.
Bramley said he has loved his time at Souths Logan and leaving the club was “the single hardest decision I've had to make”.
However, he is now looking forward to putting together a competitive team for Mackay.
“It's a big rugby league heartland so I've got no doubt we can get the community behind us and create something special,” he said.
Meanwhile, Bobongie was one of the shining lights for the Cutters, who finished on the bottom of the Queensland Cup ladder.
Bobongie, the team captain, was a tireless defender for the Mackay side and won the player of the year awards despite missing a month of football with a shoulder injury.
Other award winners:
U16 Cyril Connell Cup Players Player - Corben Duffy; U16 Coaches Award - Jorden White; U16 Best & Fairest Award - Dylan Bell;
U18 Mal Meninga Cup Coaches Award - Ben Buchholz; U18 Best & Fairest - Dermot Prior
AWARD WINNERS
• Club Person of the Year: Tony Gambie
• Rookie of the Year: Darren Griffiths
• Sponsor's Player of the Year: Jardine Bobongie
• Player of the Year: Jardine Bobongie
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