Gooch guided resurgence

COACH IN QUEENSLAND: Former OBM and Poverty Bay player Travis Gooch stepped aside from coaching the Port Douglas Reef Raiders at the end of the past club rugby season in Far North Queensland to concentrate on his family. Gooch is pictured with the team when they won the club title in 2020. That's him in the centre, in the peaked cap, holding the cup. Picture supplied

Travis Gooch has been coaching rugby in Far North Queensland for the past three years and in that time has helped put the Port Douglas Reef Raiders back on the rugby map.

The former OBM and Poverty Bay halfback has handed over the reins at the Raiders, who have been in contention for the Rugby Rainforestation Cup each year he's been at the helm.

They won the trophy in 2020, lost the final this year and in 2019 they made the playoffs.

“We as a club had a goal three years ago to put Port Douglas back on the rugby union map and I am happy to walk away knowing we succeeded in reaching our goal,” Gooch told the local newspaper.

“I thoroughly enjoyed my time coaching the Reef Raiders and I am proud of what the club has achieved on and off the field.

“We rebuilt during the start of this season before putting ourselves in a strong position for a chance of back-to-back titles.

“Although we fell short, it showed that Port Douglas can be a dominant force in FNQ (Far North Queensland) rugby for years to come.”

Gooch and partner Nicole had a baby girl this year . . . “It's time to watch the Raiders from the sidelines and concentrate on my family,” he said.

He works as a building project manager, based in Port Douglas, where he and Nicole have lived for the past five years.