It has been an up and down five weeks for Hamish Pennington but he is determined to prove Saturday won’t be his last game for Ag College this season.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Pennington returns from injury in his team’s must-win semi-final against Wagga City at Exies Oval.
The five-eighth missed the last week’s loss to Waratahs because of a shoulder injury, but believes he’s firing fit to take on his Wagga rivals in Griffith.
“I wasn’t 100 per cent last week for the Waratahs game and it wasn’t worth risking coming back and doing any more damage,” Pennington said. “I wouldn’t call it a major injury, it was just for precaution.”
Pennington hasn’t played a lot of football leading into the finals.
He missed two weeks after his father Alistair was injured in a farming accident before being sidelined with the shoulder complaint in his second game back.
However, he is confident he and his teammates are ready for the challenge.
“It’s a very big game for us but I think we have prepared very well for this,” Pennington said. “I think we should be pretty confident going into the finals.”
It is Pennington’s second year with the club and he believes the team has really bonded together this year.
“We have one of the best bunch of boys, we are all tight as hell and all best mates who live together, drink together, sleep together and play footy together,” he said.
“I don’t think you can get a much better bond.”
Coach Nick McCarthy believes Pennington will add plenty of experience to the team.
“He adds a fair bit of direction to our side," McCarthy said. “While Andy (Stanham) did a great job for us last week it is great to have a few more games under the belt with Hamish.”
The teams have had one win each this season, both away from home and with Wagga City without the suspended Rory Sheard McCarthy expects the Boiled Lollies to be fired up.
“We are expecting them to come out all guns blazing and really try and take it to us,” McCarthy said.
“I don’t think either side has been a full strength both times we have played so it will be interesting to see what happens.
“We are getting closer to full strength.”
Ag College will be without hooker Will Brown for the rest of the season after dislocating his shoulder in the opening minute against Waratahs.
Sam Scarlett will come into hooker but Oscar Freeman is another option.
McCarthy is looking for the team to continue to use the same structures that have seen them both a return to the top tier finals.
