Workies coach Graeme Osborne knows the key to success in Group 10 is keeping things simple.
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Play with big bodies, find a smart half.
It looks as though the premiership-winning Lithgow mentor might have found both ingredients wrapped up in one player.
Osborne has re-signed to coach in what will be his ninth year in charge of the Workies’ top grade side and has wasted little time recruiting what he hopes will be a player that can change the Lithgow club’s on-field fortunes next winter.
Osborne has linked with Shute Shield gun Jack Sullivan for 2019, the 109-kilogram pivot to wear Workies’ No.6 jumper moving forward.
Sullivan has played with West Harbour and Warringah in the Shute Shield and has some serious skills to match his hulking frame, having played rugby sevens with NSW and tried out for the Olympic team as well.
“There’s some pretty handy credentials there,” Osborne enthused.
“He’s got the size and speed there, and the big thing for us was the professionalism he’ll bring to the club.
“We lost of a lot of players from our 2017 side moving into last season and that knocked us around a bit, we didn’t expect it.
I love the game, and that’s why us old blokes keep going.
- Long-running Workies coach Graeme Osborne.
“You look at successful clubs and prominent people around the seven - CYMS with (Mick) Sullivan, Panthers with Dougy (Hewitt). You’ve got to base it all around the seven, the player that can get your side around the park.”
Jack Sullivan certainly helps Osborne in the halves, while Workies is on the cusp of jagging another big name signing before Christmas.
The club is also confident of keeping together the young players Osborne and his coaching team helped foster last season.
The veteran, representative coach says continuing on in the head coach’s role is something he wanted to do in 2019 to help the club push back up the Group 10 ladder.
Workies finished 2018 in eight place, and lost both games to wooden spooners Blayney during the regular season.
“I love the game, and that’s why us old blokes keep going, to give back what I’ve learned,” he said.
Joining Osborne in coaching roles at the club in 2019, James Reinhardt (first division), John Legge (league tag), Kyle Egan (under 18s) and Charlie Healey (under 18s league tag) will mentor the club’s lower grades next season.