Not all heroes wear capes.
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Well, Willie Wright and Farren Lamb certainly don’t, anyway.
The pair went from relative unknowns to grand final heroes in the blink of an eye after the premiership-winning Bathurst Panther and his younger cousin, Forbes Magpies halfback Farren Lamb both came up big in the clutch during their respective Group 10 and Group 11 deciders to single handedly gift their sides premiership glory.
Not a cape in sight, either.
“It was a bit freakish actually, how it all unfolded,” Wright, 29, said looking back at grand final day at Cowra.
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“I messaged (Farren) straight away. I posted a couple of love hearts on his Facebook page and he did the same to me.”
Despite there being 10 years between the pair, Wright and Lamb have always shared a close bond.
It’s a connection that was strengthened after the 19-year-old Magpies livewire made his first grade debut against Dubbo Macquaire in 2017, a Raiders side Wright played for last season.
The pair’s connection then turned “freakish” after Wright potted the match-winning sideline conversion to lift Panthers to a 12-10 triumph over Cowra in the Group 10 grand final, all the while Lamb was slotting the deciding field goal to lift Forbes to an incredible 23-22 victory over Dubbo CYMS.
Now, on Sunday, Wright and Lamb will be plotting the other’s demise in the inaugural NAB Western Premiers Challenge at Carrington Park.
“I still get goosebumps watching the replay (of the winning conversion). It was a very special time. To win a grand final for a club that hasn’t done it in a long time,” Wright added.
I still get goosebumps watching the replay
- Panthers goal-kicking phenom Willie Wright on his grand final winning conversion.
Wright arrived at Panthers in the pre-season but had to serve a suspension for the first couple of rounds.
He made his debut for the club in reserve grade and found it hard to force his way into a top grade outfit that unexpectedly for some found form early in 2018.
When his chance arrived though, Wright nabbed it with both hands and his meteoric rise to Group 10 grand final hero began.
“I was talking to the boys earlier in pre-season and the punters backed us to come second last,” he said.
“For us to do what we did, it’s unbelievable.”
Wright now has another chance to pull another trick out of his bag when Panthers host Forbes on Sunday.
Wright knows Forbes will be as tough an opposition as Panthers has faced this season, and with Lamb pulling the strings in the No.7 jumper the black and whites have an abundance of flair, too.
Wright has already wished his cousin all the best ahead of Sunday – but will be doing his best to find him in defence.
“I’ll try to get him but I think he’s a bit too wiry for me now,” Wright laughed.
“He’s a very special young talent.”
Kick-off is at 2.30pm.