There are somethings that take time but are worth waiting for in the Hostplus Cup.
Tyler Coburn reaching 50 games and playing finals are two of them.
The Souths Logan Magpies forward has had a few disruptions in his three years as a Cup player but is now ready for September.
Coburn made his debut in the Hostplus Cup for the Ipswich Jets against the Townsville Blackhawks in 2020 and then had to wait until Round 1 of 2021 for game number two after a COVID-19 disrupted 12 months robbed him of games.
“It’s been strange, but to finally arrive at 50 games is a nice feeling,” Coburn said.
“Hopefully all the interruptions are out of the way now and it’s smooth. Fifty games is a nice milestone.”
Coburn’s move to the South Logan Magpies from the Jets sees him on the verge of finals for the first time in his career.
The Magpies can finish top-of-the-table and minor premiers with a win against the Central Queensland Capras.
After another interruption - injury - at the start of the year, which meant that Coburn didn’t play until Round 4, he is approaching finals with the enthusiasm of an excited student about to go on an excursion.
Coburn has played 80 minutes for 15 of his 16 games, proving to be the low maintenance work machine that the Magpies are going to need in finals.
His contact will be vital to what the Magpies want to achieve - Coburn has made 441 tackles and only missed 22 this year with zero misses from the past three games.
That’s defensive steel that wins finals.
“I am looking forward to finals so much,” Coburn said.
“I have never been close to playing in September and it’s nice to know the season doesn’t end on Saturday.
“The minor premiership would be great but teams are remembered for what they do from here. It’s no point coming first and then limping out.
“I am looking forward to testing myself, I want my personal performance to go up a level as the games go up.”
Magpies coach Karmichael Hunt will be in charge for his first finals series and knows what Coburn will bring.
“Tyler’s story is about resilience... he’s had to overcome a bit and he’s done that and to be playing 50 games and finals is huge,” Hunt said.
“I love his work ethic and just the way he leads, he does the jobs that plenty of other people don’t want to do and he takes on guys much bigger than him.
"He’s a very important part of our process at Souths Logan. We know what we are going to get from Tyler this finals series and that’s his strength.”
Coburn may have been forced to wait but that just makes the next stage of his career more exciting and Coburn knows good things are coming in September.
Match: Capras v Magpies
Round 22 -
home Team
Capras
4th Position
away Team
Magpies
2nd Position
Venue: Browne Park, Rockhampton
