Fullback Phenomenon Gash
Hometown young gun Samuel Gash starred in the Woden Valley Rams under 19’s 34-14 victory over the Tuggeranong Bushrangers in the grand final.
The Cootamundra Fullback Phenomenon is only 16 and didn’t look out of place, scoring a try of his own and converting five of his six attempts.
The other players on the opposition team were certainly aware of Sam’s skill calling on their fellow team mates to rush him when he was on the attack and give him little room.
“It was good, we knew it was going to be tough coming in against the Bushies.
We always know they are up for our for good game and the conditions were not the best and a bit windy but we just did what we could,” said Gash “The first 15 was when we wanted to go end to end. Just get a few early tries if we could.
That first 15 we tried to trade sets with them and open up the last 15 of each half,” continued Gash. It’s no surprise with these kinds of performances that the young gun has been signed by the Canberra Raiders on a youth development deal.
A grand final victory, an ACT Under 18s Schoolboy, 2022 Canberra region under 19’s leading points scorer 2021 and 2021 Sullivan Cup leading try scorer are all a part of Gash’s achievements.
Sam has been contracted to the Canberra Raiders Harold Matthews Squad for the last three years, being selected when he was just 13 and has signed a new contract with the Raiders, tying him to the club for the next two seasons, where he’ll move through the ranks and play in the SG Ball Cup.
The Cootamundra Bulldogs junior turns 17 in November and is set to start preseason with the Raiders November first.
The short offseason doesn’t phase Gash, he said, “it’s a short break but it’s good to get back in the swing of things.” Gash said, “I’m aspiring to make the NRL through the junior ranks with the Raiders.
That’s what I want to do, I’ve just got to work hard to get there.”
Ed Dodds