YOUNG captain-coach Luke Branighan will not allow planning for his football future to interfere with the Cherrypickers’ quest to make the Group Nine finals.
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Branighan has revealed he is “off contract” with Young at the end of the season, but also stressed he will not be side-tracked from his main mission.
“The Pickers are my complete focus,” Branighan said.
“It’s all about (Young) making the semi-finals.”
Young is currently sixth on the Group Nine table and locked in an intriguing struggle to secure a place in the final five in August.
With six games to play, Branighan says Young must stay in control of their destiny.
“If we keep winning we’ll make the finals,” he said.
“We’ve got Albury level with us, and they’re starting to play really good football.
“Obviously there are strong teams ahead of us and Temora is also still lurking around.
“In the end we can’t rely on what the other clubs might do.”
Heading into a safe game against winless Tumbarumba at Memorial Park in Batlow on Sunday, Branighan will not rush his return from the calf muscle injury sustained against Southcity on June 21.
“I won’t be pushing it (recovery),” Branighan said.
“I want to be 110 per cent when I play against Cootamundra on Saturday week.”
As Branighan rests, Young will have a new look for the clash with the Greens.
In an interesting shuffle following Young’s remarkable 40-all draw with Brothers, “explosive” Tui Samoa has been shifted from hooker to fullback, Matt Murray from fullback to halfback and Neil Thorman from halfback to hooker.
Branighan is adamant the changes reflect the versatility of the strategic players.
“Neil (Thorman) has been fantastic for us,” he said.
“He can play one, six or seven and Matt Murray has been a regular halfback in the past.
“He’s (Murray) a good talent.
“Tui’s just an explosive player (anywhere).”
Significantly, Young has a testing run in the finals, with four of the remaining six games against higher-placed teams.
After the weekend, the Cherrypickers will face Cootamundra (Alfred Oval), Kangaroos (Equex Centre), Tumut (Twickenham), Gundagai (Anzac Park) and Junee (AO).
The Tigers, Diesels, Bulldogs and Kangaroos are first, second, third and fifth respectively, while only Tumut is below Young on the table.
For Branighan, the next months will be a defying time in his career.
At 34, Branighan is still the most effective playmaker in Group Nine, leaving him a prime target for clubs chasing a coach for 2016.