RUGBY LEAGUE
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CHOO, choo.
The D-Train is picking up some serious momentum.
Despite Orange Hawks’ Group 10 premier league campaign being somewhat derailed of late, Deryne McKenzie - affectionately dubbed the D-Train - has been in irresistible form.
In particular, McKenzie’s boiler was in overdrive against Blayney last weekend.
He ate metres, put on several of the biggest shots Wade Park has seen this season, put prop Mitch Davis in for a try and notched up at least three line break assists in a man-of-the-match performance - despite being on the losing side.
Next stop, Sid Kallas Oval.
Hawks flock to Cowra to take on the Magpies tomorrow, and two blues player-coach Jared Brodrick said he is looking for the rest of his side to follow McKenzie’s lead.
“He’s just unreal, he’s killing at the moment,” Brodrick said.
“He’s really got everything. He’s strong with the ball, he’s great in defence, and he’s good to watch too.
“[Apart from McKenzie] we’ve struggled a bit to keep our go forward when Mitch [Davis] and Sam [Coyte] go off, so we need to step up a bit and make sure momentum stays with us.”
VIDEO: Matt Findlay and Nick McGrath preview this weekend's action:
McKenzie has turned into somewhat of a cult hero at Hawks, with his full steam ahead style of play and fuzzy puff of hickory-coloured hair proving endearing.
Basically, he’s Hawks’ Willie Mason of 10 years ago.
“He’s everyone’s favourite player now,” Hawks player-coach Jared Brodrick laughed.
“All the kids around the club flock to him at games, they love him. They love his hair, everything.
“The name came from (Cronulla and NSW skipper) Paul Gallen being called G-Train. We called Deryne D-Train and it stuck straight away. Everyone calls him that now.”
Sitting eighth, but only four points outside the top five, Brodrick said tomorrow’s clash with Cowra - sixth, but equal on points with Hawks - is “make or break”.
“We need to start our run to the finals now, so it’s really a must-win game for us,” he said.
“We were on top last time around, but just got pipped at the post, so we’re keen to turn the result around.”
Kick-off is scheduled for 2.30pm.
ORANGE HAWKS: 1 Cody Robbins, 2 Jedd Kennedy, 3 Lachlan Harris, 4 Mitch Hurford, 5 Jason Gangaram, 6 Wise Kativerata, 7 Brodie Christopherson, 8 Mitch Davis, 9 Matt Boss, 10 Sam Coyte, 11 Todd Morrissey, 12 Jared Brodrick, 13 Deryne McKenzie.