One-club stalwart Jack Madden celebrates significant milestone
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Central Queensland Capras skipper Jack Madden has never really spoken publicly about how much his parents have done for him during his career.
But there’s also no better time to do so then when you’re about to play your 100th Hostplus Cup game.
A one-club stalwart, Madden is a Central Queensland man through and through.
Having grown up on a cattle property outside the small town of Duaringa – approximately 100 kilometres southwest of Rockhampton - the now 29-year-old and his brothers, Sam and Ben, would travel hundreds and hundreds of kilometres every week to play the game they loved so much, with their parents – Michael and Tanya – behind the wheel getting them to every destination.
A Duaringa Bulldogs junior, Madden said him and his brothers had to travel as far as Theodore to play a weekly game. Eventually they joined the Central Highlands competition, doing three-hour round trips multiple times a week.
As he looks back now, he knows he owes everything to them.
“It’d be my parents, definitely,” Madden said when asked who the biggest influences have been on his career.
“I never thought I’d be in the position that I am today with my footy. Being a country boy from Duaringa - I’ve never said this publicly - everything comes back to what they’ve done for me and my brothers.
“They’d cart us around everywhere and did everything for us. I wouldn’t be here without them.
“My old boy, he’s someone I talk a lot of footy with and get those outside ideas from football-wise. Those two have definitely been the biggest influences.
“When me and my brothers played for the Duaringa Bulldogs, that’s a couple of hours from here to Theodore, and then we went and played in the Central Highlands competitions and we’d go to training, which was an hour and a half one way twice a week, so a three-hour round trip.
“We’d also go play in Moranbah and Dysart so that’d be three or four hours out there.
“I never thought I’d be in the position I am today. A country boy from a property outside Duaringa… I’m really grateful for it. I’m enjoying every moment of it.”
Madden’s parents will both be there on Saturday, alongside his brothers, when he runs out for his 100th Cup game against the Redcliffe Dolphins at Rockhampton’s Browne Park.
While he has always been a Capras player in Cup in Queensland, he actually started his senior football down in New Souths Wales.
Fresh off of graduating from St Brendan’s College in Yeppoon, Madden was signed to the Wests Tigers and made his way through the ranks for their SG Ball and NSW Cup teams. He also enjoyed a stint at the Wentworthville Magpies but he was also always destined to return home.
He signed with the Capras for the 2017 season and has not looked back.
Madden said growing up, all he ever wanted to do was play for Central Queensland.
“I’m a born and bred Central Queensland boy and that’s what made it really enticing to come back here and play,” Madden said.
“I grew up watching the Capras and the Comets play and I always wanted to play for the Capras and get this club back on track to some success and that’s why I’ve stayed at the one club.
“I love the area and love the club. I couldn’t see myself at any other Cup club.”
For Madden – who made his debut against the PNG Hunters - his highlights in his time in Cup include the club’s success last year and being appointed captain.
During the past six seasons, the Capras have endured many tough years and a lot of heartbreak when it comes to results. But in 2022, under new coach Lionel Harbin, the Capras enjoyed a huge shift in form, progressing all the way to the second week of finals.
This year they have continued that momentum, sitting on top of the Cup ladder with just one loss to their name so far.
Madden admits the toughest part of his career was going through so many losses, but now he and the Capras are reaping the benefits of years of patience, resilience and hard work.
“A lot has changed but there’s a lot of hard work, effort and mateship here,” he said.
“That’s what I believe. We’re a very close group and we all want the same thing and that’s gone a long to how we’ve gone last year and the start of this year.
“It’s very good we’ve had a lot of Central Queensland boys come back here. It means a little bit more to them playing for the Capras.
“We’ve done a few hard yards there trying to win some games. It was tough for a few years but it just makes it a lot more sweeter now.
“I’ve learnt a lot through those tough times, definitely. It’s about being resilient and never giving up.
“It was tough there for a long time and it was hard on the club and myself as well, but it’s about being resilient, never giving up and turning up every week.
“Those times have definitely shaped myself into who I am today.”
Match: Capras v Dolphins
Round 9 -
home Team
Capras
4th Position
away Team
Dolphins
7th Position
Venue: Browne Park, Rockhampton
Madden is cautious though.
As he approaches this momentous milestone, he wants to be far more focused on the challenge ahead against Redcliffe rather than his personal achievement.
Regardless of his pride for the Capras and where they’ve come over the last few years, he knows they still have a long way to go to achieve their goals.
And as he moves beyond 100 Cup games, he knows exactly what he wants for his future.
“For myself, I still want to playing for the Capras,” he said.
“I’m really enjoying it, really enjoying my role captaining the club. As a club, I want success for us.
“I’m not worried about games for myself but success for the club. I want to win premierships. I don’t want to look too far ahead and I want to stay in the moment but I do want that for the club.
“It’s taken a lot for us to get to this point. I want to see sustained success.”
