PRIDE ROCK: Sam Powell has been consistent for Orange City this season.
SAM Powell is the Orange City Lions’ Mr Consistent.
While the more flashier Sione Lafo’ou is scoring length-of-the-field tries, Mesui Lemoto is kicking goals and gifting the Lions golden field position with his brilliant kicking game and Tatafu Na’aniumotu is steam rolling the opposition, Powell is there ready and waiting.
He’s always there.
“He’s just consistent,” Lions co-coach Mick Gray said.
“He’s not as flashy as some of the other backs we’ve got but he is consistent. He’s got great talk at the back for us which is really important with our defence.”
Powell will line-up at fullback for the Lions when Orange City takes on the Dubbo Roos in the Blowes Clothing Cup first grade grand final on Saturday at Pride Park.
It’ll be the biggest game of Powell’s relatively short rugby union career.
An Orange Tigers AFL junior, the 21-year-old only began playing the 15-a-side game in 2009.
He played a full year of first grade in 2010 but had last year off with work.
Back in 2012, Powell is keen to make the most of the opportunity in front of the Lions.
But it won’t be easy.
“There is a bit of pressure (being undefeated) but we just have to put that in the back of our minds and concentrate on doing what we’ve done all year. If we defend well I think we can win,” Powell said.
“I guess the biggest thing of all is we mould well as a team. We’re all good mates off the field and I think that shows in the way we play and the way we defend.”
Powell said he has enjoyed playing fullback in 2012, even though it’s a position he’s a little foreign with.
“It’s not a position I was used to before the season but Steve (Hamson) put me there this year and it’s been good. It’s made a lot easier having guys like Junior (Lafo’ou) there as well,” he said.
Powell said he was looking forward to running out in front of a packed Pride Park on Saturday and enjoying the moment, before bringing it home with the side’s technically brilliant pack leaving it wide open for Lafo’ou and co.
Powell said the challenge was just trying to get in on the act.
“I try and back them up as best as I can but sometimes they’re at another level and you’ve just got to let them do their thing,” he said.
The Blowes Clothing Cup grand final will kick-off at 3.15pm at Pride Park on Saturday.