The Hunter River Times

BY ALEX TIGANI

Here’s a trivia question.

Who is the only remaining member of Greta Branxton’s 2014 first grade premiership side still playing for the Colts in 2023?

The answer is playing coach Brady Hammond following the retirement of Joey Griffiths after the 2022 season.

Hammond guided the Colts to fourth on the ladder last season with a 7-8 winning record before advancing to the preliminary after a 28-24 semi-final win against the Muswellbrook Rams at Olympic Park.

He was named as the Bengalla Hunter Valley Group 21 first grade coach of the year as a result.

“It was a successful year given we had just came into the competition as a first grade side again but we came out disappointed because we had the opportunity to make the grand final,” Hammond told The Hunter River Times while on holiday this week.

The Colts suffered a 38-10 preliminary final defeat to Denman who in turn suffered a 42-6 grand final loss to the undefeated Scone Thoroughbreds.

Hammond, 30, believes the only chance to defeat Scone at this point in time is if they are to face off in the season decider.

“It is hard, Scone has been at the top for so many years now and to do what they did last year obviously go undefeated and not go 40 points of anyone was unheard of,” he continued.

“They obviously deserved everything they got in the competition.

“We definitely want to take one step further this year and make a grand final.

“Once you make a grand final, anything can happen.”

The squad will return to training this Tuesday, January 17.