WHEN Glenn Pollard first arrived at CSU it was with a background in rugby league but now, four years on, he is crossing his fingers he will be part of another premiership winning rugby union team.
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Convinced by his mates to make the switch to union, the Turramurra native is now right at home as a member of the CSU club which plays in the New Holland Cup.
"I actually didn't play a whole lot of union before uni, I played league," Pollard said.
"But I had a lot of friends from uni who were in the club and I wasn't too fussed about playing league or union, so I thought 'Why not? I'll just have a crack at union.'
"The league background definitely helped, the catching and passing was the same pretty much, but the ruck and maul, that took a year or so to get a grasp of.
"It's such a great club run by the players, everyone is so nice and welcoming and the win in 2019 was pretty awesome too."
Given it took Pollard time to adjust to the 15-a-side code, he started out in second grade for CSU.
But as he mentioned, he was given a shot in the first XV at the end of 2019 and was a part of the side which shocked Narromine on grand final day.
Since then Pollard has shuffled from the centres, to fullback to the wing and become a regular in the top grade.
While he enjoys the chance to wear the 15 jumper, in the main Pollard is just happy to be playing in CSU colours.
"When I first came to CSU I was in second grade and I was mainly in second grade in my second year in 2019, but I had the last few games in first grade. Since then I've been in firsts," he said.
"I played a bit in the centres in my first year and second year, but not so much last year, then I was just fullback and wing. This year it's just been wing.
"Playing fullback is always fun because you get so much freedom, but I'm enjoying my time on the wing this season, so I'm not too fussed."
With the final round match of the regular season against Mudgee, which had been slated for Saturday, cancelled in the wake of the current NSW Health stay-at-home rules, the next time CSU plays it will be in grand final qualifier.
That qualifier will be against Parkes - a team that went undefeated until CSU fought back from a 10-point deficit to beat them at University Oval in their last outing.
It was a result which gives the students confidence and Pollard said the intent at the club to go on with the job reminds him of their 2019 campaign.
"I'd say it's pretty similar, with COVID it makes it a little bit different with the atmosphere, but the feeling to win it is still there, especially after the win last weekend over Parkes," he said.
"We are going into finals, touch wood, with a fully healthy side.
"Fingers crossed we will be there in the grand final and we will take it out."
While it depends on the status of the lockdown as to whether or not play resumes next Saturday, at this stage Parkes will be hosting CSU.
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