By Tallon Smith

There’s nothing more integral to a country town than its community building events and activities. And in country Queensland and New South Wales, nothing beats the greatest game of all in its power to unite a community with the aim of achieving two common goals, fielding a competitive side, and the premiership.

Earlier this year, in Queensland’s scorching Central West, the people of the modest rugby league stronghold of Barcaldine were facing a crisis; their local club, the Sandgoannas, were on the brink of extinction. Following a COVID-ravaged past two seasons, it seemed that interest was waning and the club would fail to field a senior team and potentially fold, something that was all too familiar given the demise of the Ilfracombe Scorpions just six seasons ago, which saw them merge with their also struggling neighbours and longtime rivals, Longreach.

Amongst a frantic search to locate a coach to lead the proud club through one of its most challenging times, the successful candidate that was chosen surprised many. However, after then seventeen year old Mannix Hunt took over the coaching job with limited playing numbers but an army of willing volunteers. And the result was truly amazing.

Not only did the Sandgoannas complete the season, but after sneaking into the top four, three successive wins over Winton, Longreach-Ilfracombe and Blackall capped off a truly remarkable fairytale, which saw the club take out the Central West Rugby League title for the first time in over a decade. 

A down-to-Earth and hard-working character, Hunt said the run had a “big community impact” and was “very important” to both the survival of the club and the game in the Barcaldine community. 

“All of the supporters put their hands up to help out next year,” he said of the renewed zest for the sport in the town.

Hunt was also quick to praise those who helped him manage the role, something that was integral to his immense success at such a young age.

“My uncle played a big role in it [as the] assistant coach, [while my] old man ran the bench,” he said. “[There were] a lot of volunteers. The only way we can make money [as a club] is by running the bar and canteen.”

Barcaldine Sandgoannas skipper and 2022 Battler of the Year Mannix Hunt (Image: Skinn Deep Photos)

Self-described as having a “love for the game,” his enthusiasm and passion saw numbers skyrocket, almost doubling by the time of August’s triumph. 

“[We started the year with] 12 or 13 blokes, [and only] 7 or 8 came to training. Numbers were scarce.”

Following the Grand Final win, which in itself was pulsating as a back and forth affair with Blackall ending in a 14-10 victory, Hunt’s story became a national headline, with feature stories from Nine News Queensland, ABC News, the Sydney Morning Herald, 4BC and the Daily Mail Australia. He was also invited to Red Hill for a full tour of the Brisbane Broncos’ state of the art Clive Berghofer Centre.

Content with his major achievement at a local level, Hunt told Battlers For Bush Footy his ambition is to potentially aim to play some Queensland Cup football at some stage in the future and see where the game takes him. 

In a time where the game faces unrelenting pressure from circumstances that threaten the future of proud and historic clubs, like the century old Sandgoannas, the need for budding rugby league stars to continue emerging from their communities remains critical to the survival of the sport. 

Thus, for the absolutely amazing effort of raising his hometown club from the canvas to an unlikely premiership, Battlers For Bush Footy is thrilled to announce our inaugural ‘Battler of the Year’ is Mannix Hunt.

Cover Photo: The Barcaldine Sandgoannas, led by their inspirational skipper Mannix Hunt (Image: Skinn Deep Photos)