Next generation to Starr in Mal Meninga Cup semi-final

By Rikki-Lee Arnold

For former Redcliffe great Adam Starr, summing up what it means to be a Dolphin is simple: “Loyalty”.

A premiership winner with the club, Starr’s fondest memories are the mates he made and the way they’ve all stuck together since, even 20-odd years later. They all remain loyal.

So much so that now Starr, and three of his 2002 premiership-winning teammates, all have sons in this year’s Mal Meninga Cup squad.

As the under 19s side prepare for their preliminary final this Saturday, Starr couldn’t be prouder of the commitment shown by a number of these young men, who have been in the red and white since they were juniors.

“I love watching them,” he says.

“Most of the boys have been playing since under 6s together. It’s good watching them grow up together.

“Growing up, playing together and now they’re starting to turn into adults.”

Starr’s son Cody will start in the front row against the Mackay Cutters on Saturday, chasing his ticket to next week’s grand final showdown.

The remaining “next gen” in the squad include Amare Wynyard, son of Andrew, Nate Berrigan, son of Barry, and Jhye Leis, son of Trent.

While Nate and Jhye are not expected to take to the field this weekend, their roles in helping the side get to this point cannot be underestimated.

For Cody and Amare – who were both part of last year’s Cyril Connell Cup winning outfit – it’s a proud moment to be one step away from the premiership decider with the club they’ve always loved.

“We’ve been there before, we know the pressure that’s going to come to us and we have to keep it simple and play the footy that we always do,” Cody says.

“It means a lot. You know, I’ve grown up my whole life here, and I’ve played under 6s all the way through to now and it’s pretty cool.”

An added touch for Amare is not just that he’s playing at the same club where his dad experienced so much success, but that his father is also the assistant coach of the Mal Meninga Cup side.

Andrew Wynyard, who played 67 games for the Dolphins in his time with the club, is adamant there was nowhere else Amare was going to play and for the young gun, it makes it special for him to take after his greatest supporter.

“Since our dads played before us, we get to follow in their footsteps,” Amare says.

“It’s just like every childhood dream.

“He’s pretty much taught me everything I know. He had a lot of experience… He’s coached at a high level as well. He coached Colts when it was around. So, he knows his footy. He taught me everything I know.”

Strong season

Redcliffe finished this year’s Mal Meninga Cup season in second, claiming seven wins and just two losses as they pushed into finals contention.

They enjoyed a week off last week and will now meet the Cutters on home turf at Kayo Stadium from 5pm on Saturday.

The winner will meet either Burleigh Bears or reigning premiers, Tweed Seagulls, in the grand final.

Starr, who likes to let his son’s coaches do the talking and provide support from the sidelines, is extremely proud of his Cody’s resilience, after he overcame a broken jaw to be ready for this year’s Mal Meninga Cup season.

And Wynyard is proud on many fronts.

He’s proud as a former Dolphin of what the club is accomplishing. He’s proud as an assistant coach of what the whole team has achieved, in a tough and close competition.

And he’s proud of his son Amare, wearing No.14 on Saturday, for everything he’s done this year to now reap these rewards.

“I’m very pleased with the squad,” Wynyard says.

“They’re very good young men, very disciplined, very accountable young men and it’s good to see them get to a semi-final in a good competition.

“Obviously with Amare, I’m very proud of him. He’s a hard worker and he deserves what he gets. As a father, that’s all I can ask for.

“(With Amare) I’ll take my coaching cap off and put my dad cap on and be a really good supporter of him and work hard with him to try to achieve his goals.

“If he wins championships, he’ll deserve them with his teammates. I’m sort of one of those parents that try to sit back in the background and watch from afar and give him some advice where I can.

“And if he wins championships, I know him and the team would have earned it.”