Wellington Cowboys product Brent Naden enjoyed the highs of rugby league on the grandest stage in 2015, lifting the Holden Cup trophy with Penrith Panthers’ under-20s.
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This year, the young outside back was on the other end of the ledger, and so was former Orange Hawks winger Alofi Mataele.
Lining up with Mounties in the Intrust Super Premiership NSW Cup grand final on Sunday, Naden and Mataele’s outfit suffered a heartbreaking 21-20 loss to the Illawarra Cutters at Pirtek Stadium.
Naden lined up inside Mataele in a beaten side, the Cutters led to victory thanks to a Drew Hutchison field goal in the 73rd minute.
With Parkes’ Sam Cotter drafted into the Illawarra line-up late, starting a five-eighth, the Cutters laid their intentions for a more expansive style of football early, throwing the ball around like it was going out of fashion.
It seemed to work, scoring early before going on to win the title after finishing 10th in the 2015 season.
Nick McGrath
Editor, Central Western Daily
Editor, Central Western Daily
