The All Blacks of the Central West.
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That’s how Knox Old Boys Legends prop Bryn Robertson jokingly described his side’s opposition, the Orange Emus Legends, in Saturday afternoon’s BrothersIVBrothers charity extravaganza at Endeavour Oval.
While the Orange side does boast a former Wallaby in Scott Staniforth, who played against the real All Blacks, the Knox outfit boasts plenty of firepower too, more than enough to offset Robertson’s light-hearted attempt to play the underdog card.
Just to name a few, Matt Jolly enjoyed time at the top with the likes of Racing 92 in France’s Top 14, while Hamish McGilvray and Hamish Bayliss both played in the Intrust Super Shute Shield, with Gordon and Warringah respectively.
While playing with Knox Old Boys, the latter also won NSW Suburban Rugby Union’s highest individual honour, the Kentwell Medal.
“I’m playing, I’m a big name too,” Robertson laughed.
“It’s mainly retired players from both clubs, we’ve got guys ranging from their 30s right up to I think 55 is our oldest cat and our bodies are still able, just (and) we’ve got some good players.
“The biggest name is Scott Staniforth playing for the Emus side though and I have been told they’re basically the All Blacks of the Central West, it’s going to be a tough one I think.
“We’ll put it on the line for 80 minutes though, we’ll rip in. Game on.”
Make no mistake, while the clash is always played in the best of spirits with a far bigger picture in mind – raising much-needed funds for Western Care Lodge and Orange hospital’s clinical trial program – neither side wants to lose.
With the Lachlan Robertson Memorial Cup on the line, and the Tim Cussell Memorial Medal too, you can guarantee an electrifying game of rugby, just like the past five years’ editions.
The first was a special moment for Bryn and his brothers Jason, Scott and of course Lachlan, the cup’s namesake and inspiration for the BrothersIVBrothers initiative, who died in 2013.
“We never actually all got on the field at the same time, we were playing at Knox Old Boys at different times and … playing together was one thing we wanted to do after he was diagnosed, and given 12 months to live,” Bryn said.
“Lachie was very ill for the first game six years ago, but he checked himself out of hospital and kicked the game off.
“He was frail, that’s about all he could do, but we were all on the paddock at the same time and that was a very, very special moment and I think his passion lives on whenever we get this side together.”
“What better way to enjoy the hospitality of all the friends we’ve made out in Orange than to have a game under lights at [Endeavour Oval] in front of what we’re hoping is a massive crowd, and raise a lot of money.”
The Lachlan Robertson Memorial Cup clash kicks off at about 5pm at Endeavour Oval following Emus’ Blowes Clothing Cup showdown with Cowra, which starts at 3.15pm.
The bumper post-game function kicks off following the games.
- KNOX OLD BOYS LEGENDS: Ben Kooyman, Mike Smith, Bryn Robertson, Charlie Pierce, Matt Jolly, Andy Rasmus, Jim Hughes, Luke Rissman, Hamish Bayliss, Hamish McGilvray, Sam Manion, Pete Francis, Angus Pragnell, Sam Cameron, Stew Graham, Clay Thomas, James Gordon, Alex Whale, Myles Taylor, Andy Algar, Jon Bonwick, Richard Maxton, Andrew Blamey, Kael Hudson, Tim Parker, Andrew O’Brien, Mike Koniseti, David Champion, Matt Davis, Stu King, Adam Perkins, Callan Robinson, Mark Johnston, Pete Bromley (coach), Mark Cairns (assistant coach), Ian Frame (manager)