BLAYNEY Bears president Adam Hornby, like most, is excited to see a player of the calibre of former NSW and Australian prop Mark O’Meley making a guest appearance in Group 10 premier league.
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He just wishes it didn’t have to be against his club.
Hornby was, for the most part, overwhelmingly complimentary of Bathurst St Pat’s signing of the former Canterbury Bulldogs, Sydney Roosters, Northern Eagles and North Sydney Bears bookend to make a one-off appearance against the Bears later this month, although he did lament the fact it’s come in the back half of the season.
O’Meley will come off the bench for St Pat’s as a feature of the club’s annual Blue and White Ball celebrations.
“I did ask (St Pat’s president) Graham Ward why they couldn’t have done it against Oberon, or Orange CYMS,” Hornby laughed.
“Don’t get me wrong here, it’s great for country footy and it’s wonderful for Group 10 but I really think this kind of thing should be happening in the first handful of rounds. We’re in the second round of the season now.
“I know it’s the June 30 deadline and it’s the same everywhere, but I do feel for the blokes who have been there doing the job. St Pat’s have signed a few forwards now in the last couple of weeks. I wonder how those guys are feeling about it.”
Hornby said for the Bears’ pack, set the unenviable task of stopping the Central Coast Centurions coach, the fixture of July 23 should be treated as a learning experience.
“As I said, it’s great for the game. It’ll be great for their players to play with him and for us against him. I saw him not long ago, he looks fit enough to still be playing in Sydney,” Hornby said.
“I hope our young guys, like Lachie Hobby and Deryne McKenzie, view it as an opportunity to learn from him, hopefully they get the chance to sit down with him after the game too and talk some footy.”
Blayney are in a battle for fifth with the Mudgee Dragons and the St Pat’s clash in round 15 is shaping as a crucial game in terms of the Bears’ finals aspirations.
He also admitted if the signing gives his players more motivation than they already had, they’re doing something wrong.
“We’ll need the competition points anyway and it shouldn’t matter whether it was him, Greg Inglis or anyone else, the boys should be and I’m sure will be motivated to win,” Hornby said.
St Pat’s have also secured the services of former Mudgee Dragons and Western Rams big bopper Demetrius Ainuu for the remainder of the season.