DISAPPOINTED and devastated - that is how Bathurst league talent Ash Cosgrove was left feeling when it was announced his SG Ball campaign with the Penrith Panthers was cancelled.
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The New South Wales Rugby League announced on Friday afternoon that nine major competitions for 2020 would be cancelled in response to the coronavirus pandemic.
They included the Canterbury Cup, the under 20s Jersey Flegg, the Andrew Johns and Laurie Daley Cup competitions the Western Rams had advanced to the finals in, as well as the under 18s SG Ball.
"It is devastating for everyone involved but the advice has changed dramatically since we suspended these competitions nine days ago," NSWRL chief executive David Trodden said.
"We have an obligation to be part of the solution for this pandemic, both for the rugby league community and also for the community more generally. This view was uppermost in the minds of the board."
A talented winger, Cosgrove had previously played for the Penrith Panthers in the under 16s Harold Matthews competition and was delighted when he was picked in the 2020 SG Ball squad.
After being part of the 2019 Group 10 under 18s premiership winning St Pat's outfit, he was keen to make his impact felt for Penrith.
He scored in their season opening 64-0 win over the Roosters and helped Panthers snatch a 24-all draw with Manly when he crossed with less than three minutes remaining.
In the Panthers' most recent match - which as it turns out was their last of the 2020 competition - Cosgrove was one of the try-scorers as his side beat Souths 26-12.
"Yeah, it's pretty devastating," Cosgrove said.
"I'd put in a lot of hours training, plus travel as well, every Friday I'd travel up there.
"I started a little bit slow, but the last two games I'd really started to get into it. I think I was playing quite good footy."
Penrith was sitting fourth on the ladder, having won its last three consecutive games, when the season was cancelled. It left Cosgrove and his team-mates to contemplate what could have been
"We knew we had a good team because in under 16s we got the minor premiership and we pretty much had the same team and had a good pre-season," he said.
"So we knew we had a pretty good chance at it and we started the way we wanted to start the season off.
"I played in all the games and I'd scored one try in all of the games so far."
For now Cosgrove will keep training and has his fingers crossed that the Group 10 season will go ahead and he is able to see game time with St Pat's. As of yet, no final decision on grassroots football has been made by NSWRL.
"They [Penrith] told us to keep training, just try to stay in shape. I've got a training program from them," he said. "But yeah I hope I'll be back for Group 10 if it's still on."
