The dream is over.
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The Western Rams were hoping to nab dual crowns in the Laurie Daley and Andrew Johns Cups in 2020, but their dreams have followed that of so many other representative competitions across the country in being cancelled due to coronavirus concerns.
NSW Rugby League made the call on the two competitions as well as a whole host of others - including the SG Ball and Canterbury Cups - late on Friday afternoon which have left sides across the country shattered.
Western Rams under 18s skipper Jack Hartwig said he was "disappointed" his side wouldn't be able to strut its stuff in the Laurie Daley Cup finals, which were due to kick off this month.
Finals were postponed last week, and while the cancellation wasn't surprising it still stung Hartwig, who as a top-aged player won't have another crack at under 18s representative footy.
What hurt even more was the form the Rams were starting to build in the lead-in to the finals, with the side overcoming the Dragons in Illawarra after an impressive win in Blayney the week before.
"We were really starting to hit our straps at the back end of those group games but now there's no more footy," Hartwig said.
"I was quite disappointed when they said they were cancelling it all and it would have been nice to have that shot in my last year.
"There were a few other boys who are top age as well so it would have been nice to bring it home for them, too."
Hartwig said life without footy had felt "a bit weird", with 2020 marking the first year since he was about 12 not having ball in hand all through March.
"Footy's such a big part of my life and not having it on is strange," he said.
"I really starting going hard at it from when I was about 12 but the last three years have been really crazy."
However, more than having ball in hand, Hartwig said the camaraderie - both from the Rams and his home club in the Forbes Magpies - was what he missed most.
"The biggest thing the boys miss is the chance to get together and hang out and share a yarn, that's the thing people miss most," he said.
NSWRL Chief Executive David Trodden said the board had no option but to take this unprecedented action in response to the revised medical advice along with the various travel bans.
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Max Stainkamph
Max joined the CWD in September 2017, leaving the big smoke of Melbourne to come to Orange, where he stayed until 2020.
Max joined the CWD in September 2017, leaving the big smoke of Melbourne to come to Orange, where he stayed until 2020.
