RUGBY LEAGUE
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AT the start of the Group 10 season, few would have predicted Orange Hawks to end the year with an 18-year-old halfback and a 19-year-old hooker.
But they will.
And, luckily for Hawks, they’re two of the best young talents in the Group, too.
Occupying two of the most important positions on the field, halfback Brodie Christopherson and hooker Matt Boss have struck up a nice combination for the two blues in 2015, one that’ll be on show tomorrow at Wade Park when Hawks take on big hitters Mudgee Dragons.
Christopherson’s under 18s coach before the young pivot got the call up to premier league mid-season, Boss said if there were any doubts around the tiny playmaker’s ability to handle the step up before his debut four weeks ago, there shouldn’t be now.
“He’s been killing it,” Boss said, Christopherson just one in a long line of Hawks juniors making a big impact in the top grade.
“He doesn’t have to worry about handling it, he’s been one of our best the last few weeks along with Deryne (McKenzie), Jedd (Kennedy)... there’s been about seven or eight of them that have played and not let the team down at all. They’ve added to it.”
VIDEO: Michelle Cook and Nick McGrath preview this weekend's games:
Scoring a try on debut against Blayney, Christopherson said his first taste of premier league was one he won’t forget in a hurry.
It was also one he wasn’t expecting.
“Not this year,” Christopherson said.
“I was only playing because there’s been a few injuries ... I was a bit nervous but the boys looked after me.”
Aiming to improve his talk and ability to control the game in the No.7 jumper this week against the Dragons, Christopherson said the inclusion of captain-coach Brock McGairty at five-eighth would be huge as Hawks attempt an unlikely push for fifth place.
“I’ve been holding my own the last couple of weeks,” he added.
“I’m looking forward to forming a partnership with (McGarity) in the next couple of weeks. It should be good.”
Aiming to move a big Dragons pack around the field, Boss believes the key to Hawks - currently on 11 points and chasing the fifth-placed Bathurst St Pat’s on 17 - making the five is capitalising in attack.
“We put ourselves in the position to win a lot of games this year and just haven’t finished it off properly. If we can do that then I think we’re a huge chance of making a big run,” Boss said.
Orange Hawks take on Mudgee from 2pm at Wade Park.
ORANGE HAWKS: 1 Cody Robbins, 2 Lachie Harris, 3 TBA, 4 Todd Morrissey, 5 Jedd Kennedy, 6 Brock McGarity, 7 Brodie Christopherson, 8 Mitch Davis, 9 Matt Boss, 10 Sam Coyte, 11 Jared Brodrick, 12 Villie Taroga, 13 Kurt McNamara.
