BEN POWER and Shaun Ferguson lined up against each other on Sunday afternoon although the two will be team- mates this weekend as Group 4 tries to change its luck at the Greater Northern Championships at Scully Park.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Power is the only player to make it in from the Wee Waa Panthers this season, and Ferguson is returning to North Tamworth and the Group 4 side after a season at Gilgandra in Group 14.
It will be Power’s first year at the Championships although not his first playing rep as he is another of the Panthers’ code hoppers.
The backrower plays for the Panthers on Sundays after playing rugby for Walgett on Saturdays in the Western Plains competition.
Along with brother Sam and a couple of others from Walgett they were recruited by the Panthers to play Group 4 when they have been short of numbers for the past two seasons.
Power plays fullback in rugby and was an integral part of Western Plains getting off the bottom of the table to come seventh at this year’s Country Championships in Mudgee.
“I prefer to play league but I am just happy to be out on the field in either code,” Power said.
He will have to miss this week for Walgett as the Greater Northern Championships are played on Saturday.
And with Wee Waa having some roster issues with players not turning up to training or game days, the back-rower is looking forward to playing alongside some other good players.
“It was good to get a look-in for the side,” Power said.
“I am looking forward to the challenge and it is always good to play with quality blokes around you.”
Following the carnival, Power believes that Wee Waa can pull its act together before the end of the season.
“It took a bit to beat us last year,” he said
“If we can get all the players there at the same time we will be a different team.”
North Tamworth took the Panthers apart on Saturday and returning player Ferguson was right in the thick of the action.
The hooker believes that North has a quality side this year but won’t go so far as to predict a finish.
“A lot can happen in a season,” Ferguson said.
The dummy half is looking forward to having another run for the Group 4 side but is equally philosophical about its chances.
“I haven’t seen a lot of the players in our team so it is hard to say how we will look.”
“At the end of the day it is 80 minutes of football and anything can happen.
“It is always good to have a run with and against players you don’t usually play.”
