WILLIE Wright stepped up when it mattered most to kick the winning field goal in Bathurst Panthers’ 21-20 Group 10 minor semi-final win over Orange CYMS on Saturday but he hopes it’s not the last time he makes a huge impact for his side.
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The Panthers five-eighth denied CYMS an eighth grand final appearance in the space of nine years with his kick and it’s ignited his desire even further to help take the Bathurst men to the big dance.
“I was a bit worried. I wasn’t really hitting my goal kicks too well from out wide today,” Wright said of his attempt with just 30 seconds left on the clock.
“I called for it and aimed up, so I’m just over the moon.”
“Moments like today, kicking a field goal to win it, kicking a penalty to level, you play football for those moments.”
Wright and Panthers captain-coach Doug Hewitt have formed a strong halves combination over the back half of this season.
Hewitt went off the field injured in the opening 10 minutes of Saturday’s game but Wright directed the offence smartly to keep his team in the contest.
Wright, recruited to the Panthers’ ranks at the start of the season, has found his rhythm amongst a tight-knit playing group.
“I just love playing footy with these boys. You’ve got your Seagers, Siejkas, Hewitts, Lawsons, they’re just unreal,” he said.
“It helps having Blakey Hewitt and Jack Siejka in the team too, they helped lead us around.
“I stepped up and I did what I had to do. Our kicking game was pretty good as well.”
Meanwhile, time will tell if Hewitt will be fit for the upcoming preliminary final meeting with Orange Hawks.
Hewitt went off the field early at Wade Park with suspected damage to his previously reconstructed right knee.
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“Not sure yet. The initial response wasn’t too good, but it’s got a bit better as time’s gone on. It’s going to come down to scans this week,” he said, on the question of whether he’ll line up this weekend.
“I’m hoping it’s nothing too serious, that we can just strap it up and I’ll be right for next week.”
Panthers have been in sudden death mode since the start of the finals series, staying alive with wins over Oberon Tigers and CYMS.
Hewitt said that’s changed the team’s mental approach to finals, compared to last year where they started in the qualifying semi-final.
“Last year we had the second bite at the cherry and we fell short. This year, playing under the gun, every just keeps showing up,” he said.
“Everyone is just starting to fire up. They’ve got the fire in the belly.
“We’re more than happy to keep that title of underdog. We’re more than happy to step up to the task.
“From the get-go everyone tipped us to come second last, and others put the spoon on us at the start of the year, and it’s just fuelling the fire.”
