BLACKHAWK HAMILTON TAIA 2.0
Friday, February 7, 2025
Hamilton Taia is back in the black and green! It’s his second stint at the club and this time he’s determined to run out for Townsville in the Hostplus Cup, having pulled on the jersey several of times in 2022 without hitting the field. The forward was named 18th man on seven occasions but was never activated in match. A move south opened the door from him to make his debut the following season, which was a special moment, touched with a tinge of strangeness.
“I played a couple of games for Cutters which was great, like I achieved my goal of cracking the competition, but you know I was in the Hawks Cup system for kind of 2 years, so it kind of just tasted bitter sweet when I did put that Mackay jersey on.”
That’s because the former Kirwan High student loves Townville and he jumped at the opportunity to have another crack with the Blackhawks when coach Terry Campese came calling with a train and trial opportunity ahead of pre-season starting. Fast forward a few months, and after impressing all of the coaching staff… Hammer has earned a contract.
“Well I did half stay fit in the off season just doing a bit of cross training and stuff but yeah week one, I was named trainer of the week, which did catch me by surprise a little bit, but yeah wore it with pride, and yeah just keep working hard.”
Having re-united with his fiancé and children, Hamilton’s hoping he can run out in front of them at Jack Manski Oval in 2025.
My family was living back here while I was in Mackay so that was tough, and I thought it was just a matter of time moving back. And yeah, it’s just made me even more hungry to put my hometown jersey on and play here in front of them.”
Townsville’s first home game is against the Cutters in mid March. The Blackhawks kick off their campaign away against the Jets in Ipswich.
