HE helped Bathurst Panthers end their Group 10 premiership drought last season and while Blake Hewitt once again has finals football in mind for 2019, it will be in different colours.
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The versatile back rower will battle for Group Nine glory with Young.
The Cherrypickers are hoping the return of one of their junior graduates will help inspire them to feats that mirror Bathurst Panthers.
Hewitlast played with Young six years ago, having spent time in Canberra, England and last year with the Group 10 premier league outfit of Bathurst Panthers.
After working his way through the junior ranks in Young, he started playing seniors as a 16-year-old before linking with Canberra Cup side Queanbeyan Blues in 2013.
He played three seasons with Gouburn then signed with Bathurst Panthers.
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Hewitt spent time at lock and hooker for Panthers last season and while scoring just the one try, played a hand in setting up plenty of others.
His defence was also a huge plus for the men in black, Hewitt constantly amongst the leading tacklers each weekend.
The 28-year-old said he’s keen to play under Young Cherryickers 2019 coach Roy Jewitt, who coached him in Riverina junior representative sides.
“Roy coached me in junior rep sides and I really like his style of coaching. And I still have some mates playing there. I’m looking forward to seeing how we go,” Hewitt said.
“It was great to win [at Bathurst] last year, especially after missing out three years straight. At Canberra I got beat three years in a row in extra-time in grand finals.
“It’d be great to win a comp with my junior club.”
Pickers coach Roy Jewitt labelled it a “massive” signing. He said Hewitt’s versatility and premiership winning experience will be hugely valuable in their bid to return to finals footy in 2019.
“He’s a great player,” Jewitt said.
“I’ve always said we didn’t need much. They had a strong side last year, just a few things didn’t go their way. We didn’t need a lot, we’ve brought in quality and it’s looking really promising.”
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Young has also announced the signings of former juniors Sam Langford and Jake Hogan.
“I’m really excited to see how far this team can go,” Jewitt said.
Young coach Roy Jewitt says he’ll take the best suited team to Group Nine’s new pre-season competition.
Young faces a tough hit-out in the new event in Cootamundra on March 16. The Cherrypickers have been drawn to play Gundagai, Cootamundra and Albury.
All three sides finished above the ninth-placed Pickers last season.
The competition, which is compulsory for Group Nine clubs, is likely to be the final run for most teams ahead of the season opening weekend on April 6-7.
