Former NSW Residents representative Simon Osborne lined up from the bench with Panthers as part of a brief stint with the side that will take him at least until the end of the home-and-away season.

A grand final prop with the side during current coach John Fearnley’s stint as captain-coach over a decade ago, Osborne last played out of Bathurst with St Pat’s in 2007, enjoying a season with Mudgee in the interim as well as stints in Nelson Bay and Newcastle with Lakes United.

He had not played football for the best part of two years prior to Sunday, branching into personal training while also fostering a career in mixed martial arts that looks set to continue into the future.

Osborne is set to line up tomorrow for Panthers against Lithgow Workies in Lithgow.

“I had done a lot in footy and was looking for something 

different at the time,” the hulking forward said.

“I went to some kick-boxing classes with a few mates just to try and keep fit and I had been watching a bit of MMA at the time. 

“One of the instructors just asked me if I’d like to give it a go, so I thought about it and decided to try it.

“I’ve had four pro fights now. I’ve won two and lost two and hopefully can get back in the ring some time around August.”

Osborne’s return to football came initially on the back of a conversation with former Panthers hooker Grant Walsh, a past team-mate.

That prompted a Facebook post from Osborne asking if there were any clubs looking for an old front-rower, an offer which Fearnley was quick to take up.

Given the Panthers are four points out of the top five, Osborne’s offer couldn’t have come at a better time.

“I missed it a little bit and I still talk to ‘Walshy’ a fair bit and he was saying that the boys had been a bit up and down and not travelling the best,” Osborne said.

“It’s been a long time since I’d played with the boys, but Sunday was good. I was actually a bit nervous before the game, but settled into it okay. 

“It was strange turning up to training and I only really knew Roger Keates, Matt Rose and Trent Rose. The names have changed a lot since I was last here, but I think in general it is a good young side.

“I felt like we probably lacked a bit of direction at times, but we do have a big, powerful forward pack and I think it is more than capable of doing some damage. At times I think they were lacking a bit of confidence and that hurt us.”

As for Osborne’s future with the club, Fearnley has indicated that he wants Osborne to have a full season with Panthers in 2014 and the man himself has not ruled it out.

“I really don’t know. I did speak to ‘Fearns’ about it the other day. When we get to the end of the season I’ll have a look at the situation and obviously have a look at what I’m doing with the fighting and stuff as well,” he said.

Panthers will be desperate for victory tomorrow against the second-placed Workies – even at this stage they already need some other results to fall their way to make the semis, and a loss tomorrow will almost certainly end any such aspirations.

They will have to get by without ‘Bubba’ Kennedy, who was revealed to have played the entire second half against Cowra with a broken arm, making his three-try performance even more remarkable.

BATHURST PANTHERS: 1 Koen Willis, 2 Jason Hewitt, 3 Mitch Davis, 4 TBA, 5 Chris Gale, 6 Matt Rose, 7 Joey Bugg, 8 Matt Kirkland, 9 Trent Hotham, 10 Brent Seager, 11 Trent Rose, 12 Mick Ingwersen, 13 James Higgins