RUGBY LEAGUE
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A MAXIMUM of three degrees, with snow forecast.
That’s what Orange CYMS is forced to deal with in tomorrow’s Group 10 premier league clash against Oberon at Wade Park, completely disproving Game of Thrones now-beheaded main character Eddard Stark, who continuously claimed “winter is coming”.
Winter isn’t coming, it’s here, and it has dug its frosty little claws into Orange and won’t let go.
Advantage Oberon.
The last-placed Tigers are very familiar with playing in conditions better suited to time-honoured Batman character Mr Freeze than rugby league players, which could present a significant problem for the table-topping green and golds.
So, if there’s anyone to lead CYMS to victory this weekend, it’s kiwi prop Logan Pocklington, despite the fact he said even he is battling with the weather.
“You’d think being from New Zealand I’d be used to the cold, this is a very different type of cold though,” he said.
“I’m from Dargaville, at the top of the North Island, and even though they call it the winterous north it isn’t that cold.
VIDEO: Logan Pocklington on the charge for Northern Wairoa Bulls:
“If it does snow [tomorrow] it’ll be another box to tick, playing in the snow. Oberon will be used to the cold I think.
“And they certainly aren’t a bad team, we can’t take them lightly.”
Last time the two sides met, in round four, CYMS came up trumps in a 66-6 routing at Oberon Sportsground, and Pocklington said his side will look for a repeat dosage in its bid to bounce back from last weekend’s 22-12 defeat at the hands of Lithgow Workies - the green and golds’ first loss of the year.
Rather than dwell on the loss, Pocklington said his side is planning to make like Elsa in icy Disney classic Frozen, and Let It Go.
“Last week was a bit of a wake up call I think, but we’re focusing on each week ahead now,” the 26-year-old bookend said.
“We’ve spoken about a few things this week, and mainly it’s about getting our composure back.
VIDEO: Michelle Cook and Nick McGrath preview this weekend's games:
“We’re just looking to make sure we’re finishing out wide and that type of thing. And defence as well, Tuesday was virtually a full defence session.
“For me that just means making metres with my hit-ups and getting quick play-the-balls for (hooker) Sam Hill to play off. I’ll probably tighten up a bit this week too.”
Like most from the land of the long white cloud, Pocklington grew up playing rugby union.
A bustling No.8, it only took one game of the 13-man game to force a code hop.
After playing two seasons with the Wingham Tigers - CYMS player-coach Mick Sullivan’s junior club - in Group 3, he signed with CYMS for 2015, but has just committed to second season in 2016.
“I was talking to Scoot (Scott Sullivan), then got a phone call from Mick, came down and I’m loving it,” Pocklington said.
“And the wife is loving the move, that’s half the battle.”
CYMS and Oberon kick-off at 2.30pm.
ORANGE CYMS: 1 Tim Bassmann, 2 Semesi Katoa, 3 Jerome Harrison, 4 Ben McAlpine, 5 Robbie Mortimer, 6 Tim Mortimer, 7 Matt Rose, 8 Cam Jones, 9 Sam Hill, 10 Simon Osborne, 11 Riley Law, 12 Trent Rose, 13 Kyran Bubb; 14 Scott Sullivan, 15 Logan Pocklington.
