FORMER Ipswich Jets player Brendon Lindsay knows as well as anyone how tough coaching can be.
However, after sharing in his team’s emotion-charged first win of the season, the well-travelled campaigner also savoured the rewards.
Lindsay was delighted after the Ipswich Jets Colts scored a nerve-wracking 40-36 victory over the Toowoomba Clydesdales at the North Ipswich Reserve.
It took seven games for the promising Ipswich players to taste victory this season.
“We wouldn’t expect anything less from this side but it was good for the boys,” Lindsay said, assisted by Adam Boettcher this season.
“We’ve been pretty close, we’ve let a few wins slip but it’s all character building and it was good to see today the boys hung in there and got one back.
ANXIOUS MOMENTS: Ipswich Jets Colts coach Brendon Lindsay watches intently as his team works hard for its first win of the season.David Nielsen
“It’s just teaching them that winning habit.”
What pleased retired Queensland Cup five-eighth Lindsay most was knowing the majority of his 30-strong squad are from Ipswich clubs, assisted by Broncos players like Sam Lavea.
While finals football is a long way off, Lindsay said the growth in confidence from Saturday’s win can only help Ipswich in the future.
“We’re just about being consistent at the moment,” Lindsay said, in his second season with the colts. “It’s getting the kids concentrating for 70 minutes of football.
“Myself and Adam are about developing these kids to play Cup (Queensland Cup level). That’s our goal, and getting them ready, and a chance at how we play at the Jets.”
On Saturday, it took a late try from Landon Hays to seal victory after the Jets gave up a 22-12 half-time lead to trail 36-34 with eight minutes to go.
“We’ve been in games like that for the last six weeks so with this side, it’s just about getting them to finish it off,” Lindsay said.
“I knew we’ve got the ability to score tries. We just need to get down that end of the field a lot more.”
Lindsay took on the Jets colts coaching job after returning home from a five-year stint with the Sheffield Eagles where he was named in the English club’s Hall of Fame.
After joining the Eagles at the start of the 2006 season, he played 137 games and scored 51 tries, kicking 15 goals and two drop goals. He also played for Scotland in the four nations Euro Cup.
However, Lindsay is happy to be looking to the future, working with Boettcher and the Jets Colts.
“It is tough coaching, especially with kids,” Lindsay said. “But it’s enjoyable and days like today, it’s good to be involved.”
The Jets Colts’ next game is on Friday afternoon against Burleigh at Pizzey Park.