30 things that will pump you up for February 24

It’s the buzz ahead of next month’s Chairty Shield clash at Glen Willow, and it’s reaching fever pitch.

There’s 30 sleeps to go before South Sydney and St George Illawarra kick-off the 2018 season at Mudgee.

So here’s 30 things to look forward to/get swept up in/avoid, depending on who you support, ahead of arguably the biggest game of footy Mudgee has hosted - EVER!

From the Russells, Crowe and Moriarty, to Kenny Sutcliffe, new Dragons stars James Graham and Ben Hunt and everything in between, we’ve got it covered:

Last season just didn’t seem right with the champion fullback out with that ruptured ACL. He’s back now, though, and the Chairty Shield will mark Inglis’ return.

Mark Carroll versus Paul Harragon aside, there hasn’t been a more enthralling prop-versus-prop battle in the modern era. These two British Bulldogs could blow the roof of Glen Willow.

Lured to the Illawarra from Brisbane, on big bucks, too. Many believe Hunt is the key to take the Dragons to the next level. Time will tell if the half can produce.

Grab a bottle, any bottle. We love a drop. We’ve got the best reds in the bush.

It’s the best sporting complex outside of metropolitan Sydney in the state. These sort of games should be on in Mudgee every week!

It seems like an age since Melbourne won the grand final … but cricket season has a funny knack of making time stand still. How good will it be to have the footy back.

It’s all happening in Mudgee. First the Charity Shield, then the $150,000 central districts country championship qualifier the next day. Surely Mudgee is on the cusp of usurping Melbourne as the sporting capital of Australia.

It just wouldn’t be a sporting event in Mudgee without the male model himself. He’ll be there. Give us a wave, Kenny.

Knuckling down during the summer months, apparently the Souths backrower, who hails from Young, had half a finger cut off during the off-season. Will he still be able to catch? Guess we’ll find out at Mudgee.

Played between Souths and St George every year since 1982, the Charity Shield has long been regarded as the unofficial start of the season.

Coonamble’s close, right? Burns will no doubt have a bus load of family coming down from Bears territory to cheer him on. It’s close enough, we’ll claim him.

Juniors, seniors, committee, players, canteen staff … the lot. Games like these are great for the community, but more so for the locally footy club. The Mudgee Dragons could go global!

With the departure of Forbes’ own NRL backrower Joel Thompson in the off-season, there’s an opening in the second-row at the Dragons. If Mary has any idea, he’ll give a large portion of those minutes to Leilua – plus, he’s nickname is Lucky. How good is that?

Another of season 2018’s big player movements. Gagai will play in the centres, and if GI lobs up on the opposite side of the field, Souths could field the deadliest centre pairing in the comp.

Anyone else on twitter? Get on it. There’s an account on there looking for Random Souths Supporters at different sporting events. Turns out there’s invariably someone in a Souths jumper just about everywhere you go. He’ll have a field day with the near pandemic level of Souths fans at Glen Willow.

#RANDOMSOUTHSGUY

It’s February, kick-off is on twilight and the best venue in the bush will be up in lights, and on televisions across the country. Mudgee on prime time! 

We’ve been crying out for more top level sport in regional areas. Now we’ve got it, let’s get around it.

“My name is Maximus Decimus Meridius, commander of the Armies of the North, General of the Felix Legions, loyal servant to the true emperor, Marcus Aurelius, owner of South Sydney and bound for Mudgee, in this life or the next.” … that’s how the line goes, isn’t it?

Records are made to be broken, right? So let’s flood through those gates and eclipse the 9,132 mark set during the Titans and Eels NRL game in 2013.

For the record, 8,621 (2012) and 8,322 (2017) marks were hit in City-Country clashes at Mudgee, too.

There’s Souths fans, then there’s Russell. Mudgee’s very own Rabbitohs die-hard is surely in a state of euphoria this close out from his favourite team landing in Mudgee. A month to go, Russ.

Ask a Dragons fan what they expect from their side in 2018 … anything short of a premiership will be a failure. Souths are on the rise too. These two sides are throwing everything at 2018, and it all kicks off in Mudgee.

Will we get a glimpse of a new-look Souths with a new coach in charge? Surely fans of the cardinal red and myrtle green will be praying for something different.

Apparently these blokes are giants. Souths fans will just be hopeful they can hold on to the ball for 80 per cent of their carries in 2018.

RELATED: 

Have you picked your team yet? If so, scrap it. Big chat Cameron Murray will start at lock for Souths. Serious POD.

One of the great team songs, and steeped in tradition. There’s nothing better than hearing thousands of people singing ‘Oh when the Saints, go marching in ...’ in unison.

Or is there?

Does Glory, Glory top it? Yes, it’s the greatest victory song of all-time. Only Richmond’s Tigerland comes close – bum bum bum bum.  

There’s no bigger growth area in the game, right now, than women’s rugby league. The girls get a run on the main field at Glen Willow before the Charity Shield. What a platform for the western women!

Is there a more iconic Souths Sydney figure than Mario Fenech? Don’t answer that – it’s rhetorical. There’s no one better than the Falcon.

The opening round of the 2018 country championships will be in Mudgee before kick-off. Western takes on the Penrith Panthers in both the under 16s and under 18s. Get out to the ground early and check out generation next in action.

As a black and gold fan still dreaming about Benji’s flick pass and Patty Richards’ fend in 2005, Robbie Farah can expect a lot of attention from this author. Go Tigers.