Harden’s Will Glover has spent years and years watching his beloved Harden Red Devils. In fact when asked, he said he has been a ball boy since he was 10 years old. He has spent more than half a decade watching the likes of John Manchester, James Price, Max O’Connor and plenty more, play Halfback for the men in red. Will has happily fetched the ball for both Harden and the opposition sides, silently picking up clues and tips as he went.
Will Glover runs out behind Coach Jack Alcorn on debut.
Manchester now in his early 40s and with more experience across all of the Back’s positions including Halfback than most, started from the bench on Saturday and gave the young gun a chance to debut at the coal face in the starting side. While ‘Manch’ has been on the tractor, Will has been doing some specialised work with James Price, who upon his return from the professional Japanese competitions a few years ago, has been in and around the club, happy to impart the nuances of the game to a young man willing and able to learn and listen.
Will talking with Charlie Brown after scoring his first try down the left edge in the first half.
On game day Will has veteran Manchester to rely on if things go pear shaped, however, that’s not how they went on Saturday against Blayney, where Will scored the first try for Harden and scored again in the second half. Both times he utilised his mind over matter to deafeat those opposing him, diving over in the corner each time, at the right time.
Will listening intently during half-time.
Will follows in his father Simon’s footsteps as a Devil and his sister Molly plays in the forwards for the She Devils. Will was happy with what can only be described as a dream debut, and knows there will be harder games ahead.
Will dives over for try number two.
He said, “It was great, I’ve been more keen to play each year, everyone supported me in the pre season and Charlie Brown helped out a lot. There were no problems with anything. The ball was pretty clean, I need to work on getting there and being smoother and quicker. I need to work on my pass, but it will hopefully get there.”
Will being congratulated by “Mr Passionate” Jeremy Martin, who will not only help protect the young charger if need be but will continue to lead the pack with Jack Alcorn, to ensure Glover gets clean ball at the back.
After the match Will was able to share in the moment with his family. Will’s mother Anna said she was pretty worried during the game when he was making his debut, but all went well for the young Devil with Harden running riot, 65-0. The main photo our photographer got had another ball boy in the background who comes from a famous local Rugby family, the Minehans. You can expect that young Minehan is also taking it all in, biding his time for when he will follow in his father and his uncles footsteps on both sides of the family and set foot on Robert’s Park as a Harden Red Devil. It won’t be that long before he follows Will. It could be Glover to Minehan in a few years to come, as the ball leaves the back of the ruck.
The Times will be showcasing some more of Harden’s young guns in the following weeks.
