The Hawks pose for a team photo alongside Club legends who were welcomed and celebrated by the team over the weekend.
The Harden Hawks soared to a dominant 38-0 victory over the North Canberra Bears on home turf last weekend, making it two consecutive games without conceding a single point.
Coach Nick Hall said the match was a solid test against a team just outside the competition’s top five.
“North Canberra are no pushovers,” Hall explained. “They had us under pressure a few times, pushing us deep into our half, but our defensive structure held strong. That’s two weeks in a row now we’ve kept teams scoreless it’s a really encouraging sign.”
The Hawks got off to a flying start with a brilliant opening try from new recruit Kyle Sharp, who powered through the Bears’ fullback with a blend of finesse and strength.
“Kyle’s a really classy lad,” Hall said. “He didn’t play as many minutes as he could’ve, but what I saw was enough to know there’s plenty of good footy in him this year.”
The team’s depth was tested in the second half, as Hall made frequent changes to the lineup.
“I was rotating guys every five minutes it makes it tough for combinations to settle,” he admitted. “But I wanted to give everyone a go, and despite the changes, we didn’t lose control of the game.”
Casey Wall had a standout game, providing sharp passes and contributing on the scoreboard before unfortunately suffering a broken foot, which will require surgery.
The win comes amid a challenging period for the club, with several players side-lined due to injury or awaiting surgery.
Despite this, the return of key player Luke Brown and the strong internal culture of the squad is keeping morale high.
“We’ve got a really open, honest dialogue in the group,” Hall said.
“The commitment is there, and everyone is stepping up.”
The match also coincided with the launch of Flightless Hawks, an inclusive, gender-neutral initiative created by Barry Woods, encouraging broader community involvement with the club.
With momentum building, the Hawks now turn their focus to a tough road game this weekend against Boorowa, another strong contender in what’s shaping up to be a competitive season.
Joie Whybrow and Jayden Cutting were also amongst the Hawks best in their bashing of the bears.
-Liam Stuart
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