Hawks coach Matt McLay in action for the maroon and whites.

The Harden Hawks Rugby League Football club will be holding a very special weekend at McLean Oval this Saturday.

The club will be dedicating the 2016 Grand Final re-match against the North Canberra Bears to the memory of Mathew Brown.

Mathew was one of the most talented footballers that the twin town community of Harden-Murrumburrah has known. The eldest son of Jamie and Kathy Brown, he was a natural to the game. He possessed a booming kick and always had a football in hand.

Mathew attended Trinity Catholic School for his primary schooling before attending Hennessy Catholic College for his early years of high school. His talent on the Rugby League field meant that he was to continue his education at St Gregory’s College Campbelltown, alongside good friend Mick Alcorn.

Mathew began his footy career with the Harden Hawks under 8s and representative duties soon followed.  He represented Group 9, Riverina and NSW Combined Catholic Colleges.

He was made Captain of St Greg’s First 13 and was awarded Players Player in the NSW CCC team to tour New Zealand in 2005. He won the coverted Best and Fairest Award for St Greg’s in 2005.

He went on to play for the West Tigers Jersey Flegg NRL side in 2006.

Mathew was tragically lost in a motor vehicle accident on May 6 2006. His passing was a shock to the close knit community and to his friends at St Greg’s.

Harden Hawks 2017 coach and former ‘Greg’s’ player Matt McLay said of Mathew, “We did most things together, he was a great bloke. At school, during a photo shoot for footy teams, he would yell out, ‘Up the Hawks’.

We were very close  and after he passed away I struggled to deal with his loss, losing him was very hard for me.”

McLay hasn’t forgotten his best mate or the town of Harden. He played the 2016 season for the Hawks before taking over the coaching reins in 2017. He has a tattoo on his chest to remind him of the friendship he shared with  Mathew. He said “I have always wanted to come and play for Harden and I would have liked to do it with another mate in Brent ‘Dicky’ Turner a couple of seasons back, but I didn’t end up getting out here to play until last year.”

The influence of great mates Brent and Mick Alcorn, the latter attended St Greg’s with him helped McLay make the decision.

McLay tore his quad muscle during the season and re-injured it in the 2016 Grand Final after completing a drop out kick. The Hawks lost the Grand Final last year, but that has not slowed their momentum.

McLay has done a fine job in the coaching role this year, recording 6 wins and a loss with 2 byes from the first 9 rounds. The Hawks boast a FOR, average of 222 points and have conceded just 50 points. This translates to a 31-7 winning scoreline this year for each game.

Mick Alcorn will be holding his 30th birthday party at the Harden Rugby Club on Saturday night. Mick played for the Hawks in 2016 before he broke his wrist, ending his season. He will join his former school mates and fellow locals in celebrating his birthday on Saturday.

There will be plenty of St Greg’s old boys on hand to watch the Hawks go around on Saturday before attending Mick’s 30th. With this in mind the club has decided to remember Mathew Brown’s contribution to local Rugby League and St Greg’s. There will be a minute’s silence for Mathew before the 1st grade game and the club would like to invite any of Mathew’s family and those in the St Gregory’s College community to join the boys on the field to mark the minute’s silence.

You can bet the inspiration Mathew will provide through the minute’s silence will show on the field on Saturday.

Mathew Brown will be forever young.