AFTER coming out of a short stint in retirement earlier in the season, Brendan Hunt has led Werris Creek to a home grand final after the Magpies beat minor premiers Kootingal 46-36 in the major semi-final on Saturday.
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Hunt led the side out and, after settling into their game, had the forwards and backs working like a well-oiled machine.
Fast play-the-balls and a superb long ball had the Roosters going backwards in the second half, as Hunt and five-eighth Latrell Hampton were constantly tearing holes in Kooty’s right edge.
Hampton would end up scoring three tries and setting another couple up but it was Hunt pulling the strings around the ruck.
In defence, the former West Lions premiership winner was hitting hard and making the Roosters think hard about attacking the line.
“I am an old bloke these days but I still have a bit left in the tank,” Hunt said.
“Our defence was excellent out there and that is what will win us the final as well.”
“We knew we had to at least match their physicality and play with intensity.”
Creek played with such intensity that Kooty were never allowed in the match and couldn’t get their typical roll- on going.
A few times they sparked up and got back in the match but the Magpies’ defence and some poor ball handling snuffed out any hope long before the whistle went.
“Our defence was the most pleasing thing,” Hunt said.
“We shut the gate and were attacking the ball.
“There wasn’t a bad player out there.”
Hunt played for Creek in the U16s and, after a succesful time with the Lions and a short stint playing rugby for Tamworth last season, decided to hang up the boots.
Halfway through this season at a wedding in Sydney he ran into Magpies veteran playmaker Stu Porter who recruited him for the remainder of the year.
“I had retired but then Fuzz (Porter) got in my ear and I somehow ended up back at Creek,” Hunt said.
“I have really enjoyed playing second division this year though.”
Creek now have another week off until the grand final, while Kootingal will host Boggabri in the elimination final on Saturday.
The last time Werris Creek hosted a grand final was in 2012when they beat Kootingal for the shield.
“We will take a lot of confidence out of that and if we can take that defence we will be hard to beat,” Hunt said.
“I would hate to play Boggy this week. Yhey are dangerous and we really wanted to avoid that.”
Roosters five-eighth Jordan Sharp said the game was one of their worst performances for the season but couldn’t put his finger on exactly what went wrong.
“They just turned up and wanted it more on the day than us,” Sharp said.
“To let 46 points in at home is terrible – way below par.”
“Hopefully we can beat Boggy next week and go back to Werris Creek with another tough game under our belt.”