Trend-bucking Cummins ‘loving it’ on Emus’ wing as greens look to wrap-up minor title against Forbes

Since the greens surged out of the Blowes Clothing Cup doldrums back in 2014 the likes of Tom Green, Carter Hirini, Levi Russell, Sam Ryan, Zac White and Lachie Harris have all benefited from being on the end of Emus’ traditionally scintillating backlines.

In fact in 2014 alone Green and Hirini combined to score 33, finishing one and two on the competition’s try-scoring tally.

But boom 2018 recruit Harry Cummins, who linked with the club from University of Wollongong, has bucked that trend somewhat, although that’s not to say he hasn’t been superb on Emus’ flank.

In his side’s all-but-completed run to the minor premiership – Emus can seal that and major semi-final hosting rights with a win over Forbes on the weekend – Cummins has crossed the line just once, coincidentally against the Platypi back in round four.

“Yeah, look, I probably would like a few more meat pies (tries), but Greeny seems to be getting all of them. At least I’ve got one on the board and I’m off the nudie run,” Cummins laughed.

“It’s always nice scoring tries but really, my only focus is helping the side win. I don’t think anyone really cares who scores the points as long as we’re getting the results we want.”

Although he’s always been a centre or a fullback, Cummins says he’s been “loving it” playing outside the likes of Kyran Bubb, Harris, Russell and skipper Nigel Staniforth this season.

“It’s been really good, I hadn’t played much on the wing before coming here to be honest but I’ve been loving it. It’s been great to come into a club with such a good culture too, a winning culture,” he said.

“The standard isn’t much different to what I was playing down in Wollongong. I played a little bit of first grade here and there but mainly seconds, and I think while it’s probably a little quicker down there I think there’s more physicality and tenacity out here.”

Cummins said he’s got no doubt that physicality and tenacity will be a huge feature of Saturday’s round 14 clash at Endeavour Oval, considering there’s so much on the line for his side and the fourth-placed Platypi.

“We can wrap-up that minor premiership which is a box to tick for sure, but Forbes are pretty much playing for their season this weekend, I know a loss would really, really hurt their finals chances,” he said.

“They’ll be fired up, there’s that element of rivalry in this one too obviously although I wasn’t here for the last couple of grand finals you certainly still feel the buzz around these Forbes games.”

Emus have taken care of Forbes comfortably in both of the two sides’ encounters this year, winning 41-5 at Wade Park in round four and then 26-nil in the return trip to Grinsted Oval.

While Cummins said his side does take a lot of confidence from those results, there’s two factors the greens are slightly wary of – Forbes’ NSW Country Cockatoos Mahe Fangupo and Charlie French.

“It’ll be a different Forbes side, for sure,” Cummins said.

“Mahe Fangupo only played 20 or so minutes the first time around before he got hurt and then missed the second game, and Charlie French hasn’t played either so I’m sure they’ll give Forbes a pretty big lift.

“Obviously they won the competition last year too so they’re always dangerous, and they’ve drawn with (Bathurst) Bulldogs last weekend, so there’s form there as well.

“We just need to make sure we’re switched on for the entire 80 minutes against a side like this. Last week against Cowra and the week before against Bulldogs we had a few little lapses in concentration and even though we won both games, they could’ve hurt us more than they did.

“To a degree we only played as well as those sides let us and they deserve credit for that, but we still need to be making sure we’re not falling asleep because we want to be building in terms of performance and momentum leading into the finals.”

Harry Hamilton comes back into Emus’ second row this weekend, while Rob Thorburn will start at No.8 with Scott McLean moving to the side to replace the unavailable Jack Marchinton.

Regular halfback TJ Cunynghame is likely to be sidelined with injury until the finals, with Louis Carr staying in the No.9 jersey as a result.

Emus clash with Forbes from 3.15pm on Saturday, at Endeavour Oval.