Toowoomba players celebrate NRC title
RUGBY UNION: This year is one Hamish Stewart will never forget.
In his first year of senior, representative rugby the former Toowoomba Grammar School student won two Queensland titles and played his debut game for the Queensland Reds senior squad.
The flyhalf just notched up his second premiership victory at the weekend with the Queensland Country team in the National Rugby Championships.
Soaking up the atmosphere after the thrilling match, Stewart described the feeling as “breath taking”.
“You dream as a kid to get into finals... to win one, you just have to pinch yourself on how excited you are,” he said.
Queensland Country came from two converted tries down to defeat the Canberra Vikings 42-28 in Canberra on Saturday night.
Stewart said the squad got together 12 weeks ago and decided its main objective was to string some more wins together after winning just five games in its previous three seasons and finishing wooden spooners last year.
“Even just racking up a few wins we thought we were going alright (this year) but then we kept winning,” Stewart said.
“To get to the final was a hard journey and to top it off with a win we couldn’t be happier.”
Stewart grew up on a horse farm on the Darling Downs and hoped his story inspired other juniors to keep playing and striving to achieve their dreams.
“You just have to keep getting up. Everyone’s time comes around even if it’s little or big,” he said.
“Everyone gets a shot in life. You just have to keep hunting and do the best your can.”
Although fellow TGS alumni Phil Potgieter didn’t make it on to the field for the grand final he was also an integral part of helping Queensland Country win the title after playing all season.