The Harden Red Devils have had to look to the past for assistance in what has been a difficult year with injuries and player availability.

    The young guns of the side have ensured the Devils have made consecutive Grand Finals under the leadership of Jack O’Connor and they have been assisted by some of the older fellas who have contributed over the season.

Matt Stadtmiller 35, John Manchester 37, Adam Walsh 39, James Daly 40  and Heath Kirk 42 have in a number of different ways assisted the Devils on their path to potential back to back Premierships. They all have one thing in common, which is a 2006 premiership win against Goulburn in a 5 tries to nil performance.

Harden will take on Coota this Saturday at Fisher Park at 2:30pm on  August 10 (This Saturday) The local derby is highly anticipated with Coota proving the victor in the last 3 clashes.

John Manchester at Halfback against Condo.

   Manchester has talked about retiring for a number of years but has continued to provide excellent service from Halfback and was part of last year’s Premiership winning side. He was also there when Harden beat Goulburn in 2006 and in 04 against Cooma. He said, “I was about 17 or 18 when John O’Connor pulled me aside and I became a Devil.”

    Manchester first played when the threat of the Y2k bug had just passed. When asked what keeps him on the field he said, “Probably just a good bunch of blokes to play with and we have gone from struggling to where we are now, I’ve been on both sides, hard and good.”

Adam Walsh would be more disapointed that he can’t be there for the side than he would be about his injury.

    Adam Walsh has been playing rugby for nearly 30 years and for most of that time at a representative or high level. He once sported dreadlocks and once could have played the Alien ‘Predator’ in a revival of the cult movie. He played Australian Schoolboys and enjoyed a stellar career at Gordon and Randwick. He was capped at the Waratahs and in the squad for 2 years.

    Unfortunately injury may have cruelled his 2019 season but he was there last year and in 06. Walsh has contributed in all 8 positions in the forwards this year and has even chipped in at Fly Half in past seasons.

    Walsh joked, “I Hope to play on next year and get rid of my gut.”

Someone sporting an even bigger gut than Walsh is Matthew Stadtmiller. At 35 and 25 kilos over his former playing weight Stadtmiller’s mind has been willing but the body has left a little to be desired.

  He was there in 06 as Captain Coach and spent most of 2018 unable to play much of his new chosen sport Lawn Bowls, due to a back injury which wreaked havoc for 10 months. He hasn’t taken footy too seriously for a few years until he went down to lend a hand this year.

   He said, “My wife suggested I go down and train with the boys to lose some weight, I took that comment as best as anyone could, but I ended up having a run, how can you not.”

James Daly has been helping out at Fullback and on the Wing for the Devils in 2019.

   James Daly is 40 and retired over 10 years ago but hasn’t lost any of his trademark pace. He won premierships in 04 and 06 and through motorcross riding  and touch football has kept himself in great nick.

    If the Devils get him some clean ball he will know what to do with it.

James said, “It is a good bunch of fellas a great club and the new competition. The Devils have a great history and its good to see the new format.” When asked how the body was, James joked, “As good as gold, I’m about to hit my straps.”

   Heath Kirk at 42 is regarded as the Grandfather of Harden Rugby Union. Kirk was given an SOS when Harden lost a few key forwards in June. His technique in the scrums is spot on and by continuing to crutch sheep by day, he has remained very strong. A Second Rower who packed behind Kirk recently commented that he was like packing behind a steel rod.

Kirk commenced his career with the Devils in 92, just after Keating took over from the recently departed Bob Hawke.

   He knows more team songs then most including the infamous ‘Dingo’ song which he took over from Danny Spillane when Spillane left the club.

If the Devils win on Saturday you can expect the singing to commence. If not Dingo may make an appearance around midnight regardless.