Bracing for more Tate talk

THE Brent Tate comparisons are something Sheldon PoweHobbs can live with now he’s back on the park doing what he loves.

The Northern Pride forward played 32 second-half minutes in the win over Sunshine Coast, twice what was expected on his surprise return from a serious neck injury.

Powe-Hobbs was “a bit rusty” but solid in his Intrust Super Cup return and was happy just to finally be part of a promising season.

“I was stoked to be back out there. It’s pretty tough off-season, the preseason and then into the season, it felt like I was just doing a preseason the whole time,” he said.

“I was actually a little bit emotional running back on the field in the blue jersey, but yeah just stoked to be back out there.”

A neck brace similar to the one former Cowboys centre Brent Tate wore at the end of his career now sits on PoweHobbs’ shoulders, an uncomfortable but necessary piece of equipment that stops his head reeling back.

“I’ve been training with it for a month or so now just to get used to it. It’s strange, it is weird, but I can do pretty much everything I could before,” he said.

“I’ve been copping a bit of Tatey chat at training actually. I’m not too happy with it, but there’s not much you can do.”

With a week off ahead, Powe-Hobbs is eyeing the chance to catch up with many who helped shaped his career as a Babinda Colts junior.

Past and present players and coaches are preparing to gather this weekend for the club’s 100th anniversary celebrations.

Powe-Hobbs said it was a huge achievement for what is now one of the smallest junior clubs in Australia, but was once the breeding ground for Foley Shield greats and beyond.

“That’s where it all started, back in Babinda when I was seven years old. I love the club and everything about it,” Powe-Hobbs said.

“From my experience, we never had enough players. We were playing with 10 or 12 players against Innisfail, who always had about 30. I love it and I’m still good mates with all the blokes I played footy with and I’m sure the gala ball will be big for the town.”

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