Hawkins shares his story
BY ALEX TIGANI
For ten months, incoming Singleton Greyhounds coach Jake Hawkins has shared his story with his new community.
However, even the former Melbourne Storm and Cronulla Sharks half back left out an important chapter throughout this time.
He left that for his former NSW Country under-18 coach.
Enter Gary Gardner.
“I started back in 2000 as a representative coach and during my five years with NSW Country side only one player wrote a thank you letter to Country NSW officials,” Gardner told The Hunter River Times.
“It was Jake and I was proud to have him as my captain.”
Gardner initially received a call from Group 4 legend Ron Dellar alerting him about an exciting teenage talent.
“Northern Division finished in 2006 and then we moved to the Central Hunter and Group 4 went over to Group 3 and Group 2,” he recalled.
“Ronnie was always telling me back then that this ‘Jake Hawkins’ is good and I got to watch him; he was quick, smart and he could read a game.
“If you look at all good half backs, they have a bit of cheekiness about them and he was no exception.
“I got to watch him in 2007 when I was coaching the country sides and the next year Ronnie reminded me to keep an eye on him.”
The rest would be history.
Together the duo led Country NSW to battle against Queensland as captain and coach.
Gardner has since described his on-field leader as a delight to watch.
“You look in Sydney at those good half backs that are prepared to go to the line, those halfbacks are prepared to get whacked and he was one of them,” he admitted.
“When we named him as captain he listened, he was loyal and if someone weren’t pulling their wait then Jake would step in.
“We ended up going to Queensland and we played basically a second’s origin side and we beat them 42-18 or something.”
These days, Gardner admits he (at times) feels uncomfortable donning the Greyhounds colours given his current position on the Group 21 board.
Yet he cannot help but smile knowing that his former pupil will lead the club as first grade coach in this year’s Newcastle and Hunter Community Rugby League season.
The Greyhounds will open their account at Singleton’s Pirtek Park this Sunday against Dora Creek (3pm).
The reserves will host Dungog (1.20pm) while the ladies tag team will commence the day against the Wangi Warriors (12.20pm).