THERE was a strong chance that in a COVID-free world the Central West rugby league community could have been talking right now about the St Pat's Group 10 league tag winning a fifth straight premiership.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Instead, it's a second successive year where the Saints will be left wondering about what could have been.
Pat's finished as unbeaten minor premiers after executing another brilliant season of league tag, which included their 50th straight Group 10 victory right before the latest COVID-19 lockdown took effect.
The Saints certainly didn't have 100 per untouchable status heading into the finals series, especially with long-time rivals Orange Hawks playing great football, but they were still the one's to catch.
Pat's coach Mish Somers said the team will be confident they can carry that hot form into 2022.
"It's disappointing but that's just the way the world is at the moment. We have to deal with that," she said.
Two years not being able to go for a premiership was a bit tough and it was shaping up to be a good finals series with Hawks and CYMS playing some good footy.
"We're probably one of the older sides in the comp so losing two years of what could be some of the girls' best footy is a bit disheartening.
"Hopefully that puts a bit of fire in them and they'll be able to turn up again next year and have a similar squad and be able to do similar things."
If the finals series would have gone ahead then Pat's would have had the first week of finals off before facing a big test against the winner of the all-Orange qualifying final between Hawks and CYMS.
Somers believes this season's finals series would have been a great spectacle.
"It was a different sort of year and a little stop-start, with the magic rounds changing things up," she said.
"Hawks are a quality side and they have a lot great girls coming through. They were almost unbeaten this year in under 18s league tag and some of those girls are playing first grade.
"This was probably going to be the closest finals in a while, especially with CYMS saying that they had some great 18s coming through. You can never write Blayney off as well, with Soph Stammers leading them."
The Pat's under 18s were the only side to bring down Hawks in the junior competition this year - bringing the intensity of the senior rivalry into their age group.
The continued growth of the under 18s competition is something Somers looks forward to seeing.
"It's got some great teams and a lot of those girls are coming through the senior ranks, so I think league tag will be there in the next few years," she said.
"It should be a really great quality comp if we don't lose too many girls to university or work. "
As for what the 2022 season looks like?
"I think most of our team should be back to play again next year. A couple of our girls like Mez [Jones] and Darcie [Morrison] were having children so I imagine they'd be keen to come back," Somers said.
"It's probably one of the last ones where we'll all be together before a few of us pull up stumps. It could be a big year for the Pat's girls."
Our journalists work hard to provide local, up-to-date news to the community. This is how you can access our trusted content:
- Bookmark www.westernadvocate.com.au
- Make sure you are signed up for our breaking and regular headlines newsletters
- Follow us on Twitter
- Follow us on Instagram
- Follow us on Google News