Cocks on the cusp of Fire milestone
Micaela Cocks is poised to become just the second player in club history to chalk up 200 games for the JCU Townsville Fire this Friday when she leads them into battle against Dandenong.
The acting captain, who debuted for the Fire in 2011/12, joins former teammate Rachael McCully (228) in the elite club.
A three-time championship winner with the Fire, Cocks has played a key role in the club’s dynasty, leading them to seven consecutive play-off appearances including five Grand Finals.
Cocks was named the Rachael Sporn Medallist in 2015/16 as the Grand Final MVP after guiding the Fire to back-to-back championships.
With the milestone on the horizon, Fire coach Claudia Brassard lauded the New Zealand Olympian for the impact she has made in North Queensland.
“She’s a special athlete for our club,” Brassard said.
“She’s a bit of a club legend – she’s won a heap of championships – but I think it’s more about the things she has done as a teammate, and as a captain and a vice-captain, and it’s nice to be able to celebrate that with her here.
“She’s been part of the program when it has been at it’s most successful and she was part of that first year when we started re-building.”
After almost eight seasons with the Fire, Cocks sits inside the top-10 for points (fourth), rebounds (10th), assists (third), steals (eighth) and three-point makes (first).
The 32-year-old has also accumulated seven club awards including three Players’ Player awards, three Denis Russell Commitment to Excellence awards and a Coach’s award.
“It’s an honour to play 200 games for the Fire,” Cocks said.
“I’m just really proud to be a part of just one club for my entire WNBL career and excited to play that 200th game in front of a home crowd as well.
“Rachael (McCully) is a really good friend of mine, so to share that (milestone) with her then I couldn’t have picked anyone else.”
The Fire host Dandenong at Townsville Stadium on Friday night from 7pm.
Click here to pre-purchase tickets to the Fire and the Rangers.
JCU Townsville Fire Games
- Rachael McCully (228)
- Micaela Cocks (199*)
- Mia Murray (174)
- Suzy Batkovic (163*)
- Tania Baxter (131)
- Aneka Davis (122)
- Cherie Gallagher (119)
- Claudia Brassard (106)
- Rohanee Cox (103)
- Kelly Wilson (103)