PRE-SEASON trials are a good way for teams to work on new combinations, get match fitness and identify problem areas ahead of the season proper, but when St Pat’s travel to Forbes to take on the Magpies today it will also be about emotion.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Group 11 outfit Forbes and Group 10 premier league hopefuls St Pat’s will use the game as a way to honour a man held dear to them both – the late Brendan Collits.
In late June last year, Saints’ hooker Collits was returning from his hometown Forbes to Bathurst when he was involved in a fatal single-vehicle crash near Blayney.
His death hit both the Saints and Magpies hard.
The Saints have already demonstrated how much Collits meant to them by having their 2013 first division grand final jumpers carry his nickname, ‘Stubby’, but the match against Forbes at Spooner Oval will likely be an even bigger gesture.
“He was a huge part of our club, he was great to have around, so it will be good to go over there to Forbes and have this game to honour him. I think they are opening a bar and a gym in his honour. I am also looking forward to getting over there and catching up with his parents,” Saints’ centre Mick Armstrong said.
“I hope it can become an annual thing between us, that would be a nice way to honour him.
“I think some of the boys will be very keen to just be part of the match and the night. I think that will be a pretty big honour, probably more than winning.”
The match comes a week after the Saints reached the final of the annual Bathurst Panthers Rugby League Knockout.
While going down to Cowra in the decider, after wins over 2013 grand finalists Orange Hawks and the Tigers, Armstrong and his fellow Saints were not too disappointed.
It was a handy start for a team working under a new coach in Kurt Hancock and featuring a very different line-up to last year’s team.
“We were pretty happy with how we performed because we have had a lot of changes and have a lot of new faces this year. That was a good hit-out for us and I think we will only get better,” Armstrong said.
“It’s a bit of a different feeling to the last couple of years because there are so many new faces. There are a lot of young guys too, which is probably good, it’s good to blood some of them.
“I think we will be taking a pretty big squad over [to Forbes] and we’ll just be looking to play some good footy and building for the season.”
The day in Forbes will feature both a first grade and under 18s match. The Saints will have one more trial match against Oberon next weekend before starting their latest Group 10 campaign.