If Albury Thunder win another Group 9 rugby league premiership this weekend, they will owe a debt of gratitude to local school Red Bend Catholic College.
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Thunder will face Gundagai Tigers in the Group 9 decider in Wagga on Sunday, with five former Red Bend students in their first grade squad.
Featuring former college captain Jake Grace, Lou Goodwin, Andrew Cowhan, Mitch Davis and Nick Wilson, Albury Thunder rolled Wagga Wagga’s South City 34-0 in the competition’s major semi-final on September 15, setting up a chance to defend their 2012 premiership.
There was no score for 25 minutes of the major semi in Albury until the Thunder started to roll, led by their former Forbes forwards Goodwin, Davis and Cowhan.
Albury Border-Mail reporter Brett Kohlhagen said the Red Bend contingent had played a key role in reinvigorating Thunder in the last two years.
Lou Goodwin received Thunder’s best and fairest trophy last year, and the Albury paper’s sports editor said Mitch Davis was a firm favourite for this year’s top accolade.
“Goodwin and Davis in particular have been outstanding for [Thunder],” he said.
“They would both be among the best couple of players in the group for sure.”
Andrew Cowhan was also enjoying a strong season, he said, improving his game to command a position in Thunder’s best 13 each week.
Jake Grace arrived at the club mid-season, from Penrith’s NSW Cup side Windsor Wolves, and is just starting to have an impact after recovering from injury.
Nick Wilson had been in and out of the first grade team, Kohlhagen said, but was also having an impact in the finals off the bench.
“They’re all very popular down here,” he said.
“To some extent they’ve really helped turn the club around from what it used to be a few years ago.”
David Cowhan’s mother Robyne said there was sure to be a strong contingent of Forbes supporters cheering for the 2009 Red Bend graduates on Sunday.
“They are all really loving it down there,” Robyne said.
“They all work in trades or have apprenticeships [around Albury] and they just love playing and training together.”
Gundagai defeated South City 24-20 last weekend to earn the second grand final spot.
