They say blood is thicker than water and this cannot be more true for the Kandos Waratahs.
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It might have been a tough year for the defending premiers, missing the semi-finals for the first time in nearly a decade but there is an unbreakable bond between several of the players – a family bond.
Four sets of brothers and three sets of cousins have pulled on the red and green jersey in season 2014.
Brothers Michael and Ethan Parsons, Steve and John Madden, Ben and Jason Docherty, and Scott and Dylan Wilkinson have all played for the Waratahs this season.
Joining them have been cousins Luke Hundy, Matt Hundy and Nathan Lilley, Kynan Murray and Mick Tomlinson, and Dean Mundey and Chris Rayner.
Mundey and Rayner’s father and uncle respectively played alongside each other.
The Waratahs are schedule to be in action for the final time this season tomorrow when they take on Wallerawang.
However, the game could be in danger of being abandoned due to the Warriors’ ill-discipline this year.
They’ve already been suspended for two matches earlier this season due to repeated on-field infringements, the club was to have learned of their fate known by Group 10 last night following their abandoned match against CSU Blue last week.
The match was called off seven minutes from full-time because of “a lot of unrest, repeated infringements and a few players sent to the sin-bin” according to Group 10 president Linore Zamparini.
But regardless if the match goes ahead or not, it’s not going to stop the Kandos Waratahs club from celebrating its history.
The club is holding a grand reunion day where players, past and present, get to share their memories and experiences of playing for the Waratahs, as well as catch up with old mates.
It will also be the first showing of the yet-to-be-completed historic book of The Story of Rugby League in Kandos and Rylstone.
If Wallerawang don’t play, there will be an exhibition match between the current Waratahs players and the Old Boys.
Members of the winning 2009 and 2013 premiership sides are expected line-up for the Old Boys.
Waratahs coach Glenn Sargent said the possible match between his current crop of players and the Old Boys might be a better spectacle.
“It will add heaps to the gala day with old Rylstone and Kandos players and officials coming from everywhere,” Sargent said.
“I have 19 blokes confirmed as starters.
“The day is all about fun and getting the Waratahs together. The young blokes should talk to these blokes and hear how much this club and their team-mates have meant to them.
“It’s a bummer if Wallerawang may not be available, but what a compromise and opportunity to see some of the best we have had here, go around against the blokes who are now in their boots.
“We will have paramedics on stand-by with oxygen bottles on tap.”
The day will also have an auction for the one-off special centenary jerseys that will be worn by the players tomorrow.
The day begins at 10am with the juniors and the senior game is schedule to commence at 2pm.