IF there was one factor that Willie Wright could pinpoint as being behind the success that Bathurst Panthers has enjoyed since he inked a deal with the Group 10 club, then it would be the strong bond within in the playing group.
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Yes Panthers have plenty of talent and experience in their ranks - seeing names like captain Doug Hewitt, Jack Siejka, Brent Seager lining up each weekend excites supporters of the men in black - but their rivals have talent too.
For Wright what helped give Panthers the edge last season when they won the premier league crown and what has them in a battle for this year's minor premiership is that the squad can find a way to dig deep for their mates when it matters.
"With the group that we have there, we're a real tight bunch, we're a band of brothers. We're more than friends, we are more like brothers," Wright, who joined Panthers from the Walgett Dragons in 2018, said.
"That's a good thing and that brings a really good culture to the club as well.
"It's unreal. Danny [Dwyer], Doug and Matt Rose sat down and talked about me early last year, Panthers were happy to offer me a contract. Yeah, it's a great club, very family orientated as well."
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Since Wright's clutch sideline conversion handed Panthers the premiership crown last season, they have continued to impress.
They've lost just twice through 15 rounds to sit second on the ladder behind Orange Hawks - points differential the only thing separating that pair.
One of Panthers defeats came last Sunday against the in-form Lithgow outfit, but Wright was not there. Sidelined with a knee injury, he could not bring himself to watch his team-mates in battle either.
"I didn't go over to Lithgow, I get too emotional sitting around watching my brothers play. It's pretty hard for me to sit down and watch, I would have tried to fire them up a bit if I went over," he said.
"It's been terrible not playing, but I guess I got the time to rest."
But this Sunday Wright is back and with just three games remaining in the regular home and away season, he keen to make his presence felt against the Blayney Bears.
With the group that we have there, we're a real tight bunch, we're a band of brothers.
- Willie Wright
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The Bears are yet to win a game this season and have long been out of finals contention. On average they have conceded over 46 points per game and in their prior meeting with Panthers this season, went down 44-10.
Still, Wright knows that a Bears outfit playing at home with nothing to lose is deserving of respect.
"We need this win this week. People have been putting big scores on them, but we're not focusing on putting a big score on them, we are focusing on getting together as a group and getting back in the winning circle," he said.
"Blayney in Blayney - when you look at it Panthers playing in Blayney have a little rivalry. I think it showed last year when we played them in Blayney, we didn't put them away until the last five minutes of the game.
"It's not going to be an easy game, but hopefully we can get back in the winning circle and get this minor premiership."
Bathurst Panthers will take on the Blayney Bears from 2pm Sunday at King George Oval.
