Working with air conditioners, Hawks fullback Duncan Young knows a thing or two about keeping cool, and coming into the Group 10 preliminary final on Sunday he's as cool as a cucumber.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
With a grand final spot on the line, the Hawks fullback hasn't had a knee-jerk reaction to last week's big loss to Bathurst Panthers.
On the contrary - Young is keeping it simple ahead of a do-or-die meeting with the red-hot Mudgee Dragons, who are coming off a thrilling win against the Lithgow Workies last weekend.
"We're pretty confident, but in finals footy anything can happen," he said.
"We just need to play our game and as long as we play our game we should get over Mudgee."
Young admitted his Hawks lost momentum over their week off in the first week of finals and that spilled over into last week's clash, but said the side had been given "a chance to redeem ourselves".
"We had good momentum heading into the finals and the week off sort of halts that momentum," he said.
I've always been a goalkicker, just been on and off during rugby and I think Willie likes getting back and giving the guys messages and encouragement.
- Duncan Young on taking on the goalkicking mantle.
"The week off didn't help and people were getting a bit frustrated, [Panthers] played their best game all season and there's not much we can do about it."
Young has relished the switch into the No.1 in 2019 after spending time in both the back row and the centres last year, mirroring the role he's played at Orange City on Saturdays for the past few years.
He's also taken the mantle of being the team's goal-kicker on-board, with Willie Heta handing Young those duties despite the captain-coach being one of the best kickers in the business.
"I've always been a goalkicker, just been on and off during rugby and I think Willie likes getting back and giving the guys messages and encouragement," Young said.
"This season's been different, obviously a different position for me but I've built into it and got used to it and it's easy playing around all the guys."
One of the biggest differences in 2019 for Young has been the rollercoaster ride of playing for the Orange City on Saturdays and then Hawks on Sundays, jumping between the winless Blowes Clothing Cup side and the Group 10 minor premiers.
"It's been a little bit different," Young said of the gap between the sides.
"We're obviously struggling at City but it's one of those years, it goes around and it's been good leading the younger guys, but here I just have to play my game and not really worry about anything else.
"Obviously it's nice to have people looking up to you but it's nice to not have to worry about those sorts of things sometimes."
Come Sunday, Young will have one thing on his mind - how to slay the Dragons to reach the grand final.
Kick-off is 3pm at Wade Park.
DO YOU WANT MORE ORANGE SPORT AND NEWS?
- Receive our free newsletters delivered to your inbox, as well as breaking news alerts. Sign up below ...