Courtesy of the Mackay Daily Mercury
MACKAY Cutters player of 2009 Jardine Bobongie hasn’t given up on playing in the National Rugby League but said it’s not on his immediate agenda.
The former North Sydney Bears cult figure has been in the shadows of the NRL for several seasons, playing in the NSW premier league grand final in 2007 following promising stints at Cronulla and St George Illawarra.
Now under the watchful eye of the Cowboys, the tireless back rower has impressed in the Queensland Cup, tackling his way to a standstill for the Cutters.
And while the 24-year-old admitted he’d love a run with North Queensland, it’s not something he’s dwelling on.
“Nobody in their right mind would say no to them (the Cowboys) but my ambition is the same as the last couple of years – stay injury-free, make the semis and hopefully play a rep game (Queensland Residents) along the way,” he said.
Bobongie will play a huge role in the Cutters’ quest to make the finals this season.
“He’s 100% for 80 minutes,” coach Paul Bramley said.
“You know when Jar is out there he’ll put the same amount of effort in during the whole match.”
Bobongie was Cutters captain last year and is part of the club’s 2010 leadership group that also includes Darren Griffiths, Shane Muspratt and Todd Seymour.
“His actions tend to speak louder than words on the field but he also knows the right thing to say at the right time,” Bramley said.
“He’s part of a leadership group that is a good cross section of the squad. They will rotate the captaincy but Todd Seymour has indicated he’s unwilling to be an on-field captain at this stage.”
Footy journal Rugby League Week predicts the Cutters will collect the wooden spoon in successive seasons but Bobongie said Mackay is primed to improve.
“Brams (Bramley) has put us through a pretty tough fitness and strength schedule so I think we can be more competitive this year,” he said.
“We should be able to be competitive through 80 minutes and not just the 50 or 60 minutes we were last year.”
The Cutters copped a pre-season blow on Saturday with their final pre-season trial against a Cowboys under-20 side being abandoned because of rain in Mackay.
They start their season away to Central Comets on March 13.
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