Waratahs have been dealt a big blow with speedster Blake Hart to miss the Southern Inland grand final on Saturday.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
The reigning Bill Castle Medal winner, who dazzled in his first season with the club last year, will miss the grand final rematch with Ag College due to Australian Armed Services rugby commitments.
The versatile back has been in Scotland on a holiday but with the camp coinciding with the showcase at Conolly Rugby Complex on Saturday he won't return in time to take his place.
Waratahs co-coach Angus Stevenson admitted it is a blow for the side ahead of the biggest game of the season.
"We've known for a while Blake's last game was probably going to be the first week of finals, but it is a bit of a bugger," Stevenson said.
Hart missed the most of the first half through injury and has played a variety roles in the back end of the season.
He found great success mostly on the wing last season, and averaged almost two per tries a game, but has been used at fullback, in the centres and five-eighth this season.
He's scored 12 tries in nine games this season.
It ends his association with the club with 2019 always to be his last season in Wagga.
Hart was at inside centre for Waratahs' 55-12 win over Ag College in the major semi-final but Joe Reynolds will take back the number 13 jumper for the grand final.
Halfback Sam Hobbs is in doubt with a knee injury meaning the premiers' back line is far from settled.
Dan Selmes moved from the wing to cover his absence in their last game and if Hobbs is cleared to play Stevenson doesn't believe it will change their regular back line too much.
"Reynolds has been playing there all year and if Hobbs makes it back in time then it's not really an issue," he said.
The last time Waratahs lost to Ag College was five seasons ago.
They've won two premierships since, and are out to be the first team to win back-to-back titles since their success in 2010-11.
However Stevenson expects the game will be much tighter than their last clash.
"I was surprised and thought it would be much closer," he said.
READ MORE