Madden comes out of Retirement
Again

Courtesy of the Fraser Coast Chronicle www.frasercoastchronicle.com.au By Richard Harvey

RETIREMENT obviously doesn?t suit Steve Madden and that?s good news for Maryborough?s Wallaroos Rugby League Club.

The 33-year-old former Redcliffe Dolphins half-back will come out of his second spell of retirement to captain/coach the Wallaroos A grade team in the 2005 Bundaberg Rugby League competition. Madden, who played 80 A grade games for the then Mark Murray-coached Redcliffe in the Queensland Cup, first hung up his playing boots in 1994 after having two knee reconstructions.

Five years later he came out of retirement to help Bribie Island win the Sunshine Coast Gympie Rugby League competition. No sooner had Madden got his hands on his premiership winning medal then he announced he was finally retiring. Now he?s preparing for another playing stint but it?s one he said wasn?t planned.

Madden said he moved to the Heritage City because his parents live here and he wanted to spend more time with them. Rugby league wasn?t included in his plans for a new life here. However, that all changed when a work colleague, who played for Wallaroos, starting talking footy last season and suggested Madden go and have a look at the team. Madden went along and watched Wallaroos play the Isis Devils but he wasn?t impressed. ?It seemed that they lacked a bit of direction to me and hopefully I can help turn that around next year,? Madden said. It won?t be an easy task. Just a year after winning the 2003 Bundaberg Rugby League premiership, Wallaroos lost every game this year and finished on the bottom of the eight-team competition ladder. Madden said as far as he was concerned that form counts for nothing now. ?The slate has been wiped clean. There is no point talking about the 2004 season ? it?s next season that matters and it?s time to start all over again. ?It?s the start of a new era for the club and we?ve called it ?2005 Revive?. ?Hopefully I can play a part in helping bring the good times back to the club.? Madden said pre-season training won?t start until January 15 but a meeting would be held at the Maryborough Sports Club on January 8 at noon for all players wanting to play next year.