JUST as Gundagai and Junee crave an end to their Group Nine heartache, Young is also a rugby league outpost waiting impatiently for their premiership drought to break.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Nick Hall was only 23 years old when Young got a last shot at the winning the Group Nine grand final.
He wasn’t even in town seven years earlier as Young rode home on the skill of Wayne Portlock and Mal Cochrane to beat Magpies 16-6 for the Group Nine crown in 1991.
Back in the 1998, however, Hall and dynamic halfback Darren Ireland were Young’s star recruits as the Cherrypickers blazed a path to the decider, only to crash 38-22 to Temora.
Coming at the end of a richly successful season, in which the team was labelled “unstoppable” by rival coaches, the grand final loss is the closest Hall has come to cracking it for the Group Nine title.
Seventeen years later, however, the seemingly indestructible warrior is still trying.
At 40, the Cherrypickers second rower is the oldest player in any of the four teams remaining in the hunt for the premiership in 2015.
And, despite facing a Southcity team bristling with youth, the football time-bandit is ready for the challenge of taking down the Bulls in the minor semi-final at McDonald's Park on Saturday.
“We’re (Young) a bit nervous, but we’re also confident,” Hall said on Tuesday.
“There’s four good sides left in and we’re one of them.
“I think any of the teams can win (title).”
Heading into the sudden-death duel in Wagga, Hall admits he is finally ready to call it quits on his remarkable and enduring rugby league career.
“This is it, definitely, this is it,” Hall said.
“The body is saying it’s time, and I also want to have more Dad time with the kids.”
Like most fathers, Hall is determined to take an active part in the growth and development of his children.
Come Saturday, this will mean cheering from the sidelines as his daughter Jayda and her Young team-mates strive to beat Kangaroos in the Group Nine under-13 Leaguetag grand final.
“I’m actually Young Junior Rugby League president, and we’ve got four teams in the grand finals,” Hall said on Tuesday.
“I’ll be there for Jayda’s game but I won’t be able to stay for all of them.
“I’ll have to rush off to get to Wagga.”
Always forthright, Hall is adamant Young is in the right position to take another step towards the grand final by eliminating the Bulls.
“It’s been a tough season for the clubs because of injuries,” Hall said.
“The last two weeks we’ve had most of our players back, and it’s shown.
“We’ve been able to finish games off.”
In a booming end to the season, Young thrashed Junee in the last round to qualify for the finals before smashing Kangaroos in the first week of last Saturday.
Defying the years, Hall turned in a trademark performance as Young swept past Roos in the elimination final, bolting out to a 22-0 lead before romping home 48-14.
Taking stock of the victory, Hall was at pains to play down his important input in the overpowering success.
“I can’t do what I did physically (17 years ago),” Hall said on Tuesday.
“I’m trying, but it’s not the same.
“That’s the reason I haven’t been able to play a whole season this year or last year, and is part of the reason I’ll be finishing up.”
With the departure of captain-coach Luke Branighan, the retirement of Hall will leave a hole in the team and the hearts of Young’s rugby league community.
