REDMEN TO AXEMEN Powell sets sights on Country Championships

By Gary Nichols

GRAFTON Redmen

frst grade rugby coach

Gary Powell had one goal in 2023: to see the Redmen once again be a major force in the Mid North Coast Rugby competition.

Not only did they achieve what some rugby pundits’ thought was a

“pie in the sky”, Powell’s desire, raw emotion and passion saw the club feature in the fnal’s series with frst grade one-step away from a grand fnal berth.

There’s no doubting Powell’s coaching ability, and it has not gone unnoticed by the Mid North Coast Zone committee.

Powell has been appointed as coach of the Mid North Coast Axeman this year as they set their sights on the NSW Country Championships in Tamworth over the June long-weekend.

“They (Mid North Coast) gave me a call and asked if I was interested,” Powell said during the week.

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“They discussed the matter previously with our president Bart (Bart McGrath) who told them I was thinking about coaching the zone if the opportunity was there.”

The last time Powell coached a representative side was back in the 2000s when rugby was vastly different.

The pace of the game was slower and yellow cards were not handed out like parking tickets on a busy suburban street.

“I coached a Mid North Coast under-19 side a long time ago but never at senior level,” Powell said.

“It will be a challenge, but I’m really looking forward to it.”

One major obstacle confronting Powell and the coaching staff will be selecting the right team and combinations as the zone is split between Upper and Lower Mid North coast.

“There is a new plan this year leading up to the championships. We have decided to have a possible-probable’s game which will help with selections,” Powell said.

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“Also, Lower Mid North Coast start before Upper Mid North Coast so it could be an opportunity to watch a few games.

“Mitch Walton from Coffs Snappers will be helping out as assistant coach which will be fantastic as he knows a fair bit about players vying for selection.”

The Axeman made the fnal of the Richardson Shield last year, but came up against an inform Hunter Rugby side eventually going down 45-26.

One of Powell’s strengths as a coach is his ability to manmanage, and his effect on players…they want to play for him.

“I haven’t been to Country Week for about 30 years, but I know there are plenty of quality players in the zone,” he said.

“For me it is all about managing the players and having players committed to the cause, which is being successful.” in Casino

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“Leemo has views on just about anything” e letter had a BIG fancy Letterhead saying C.B.T.A. (and in tiny small writing, Cat Behaviour Training Academy) I read these words with a sense of confusion, and applied much focus into reading all the other words. is is what the letter says; Dear Jane. ank you for your recent communication regarding the behaviour of your adopted feline ‘Leemo Cat’. You have stated he is inclined to sleep in your kitchen sink, chew things that are NOT food, eat indoor plants; you state he uses aggression when playing, refuses to give up the TV remote, brings live animals in to show you then yowls loudly when you relocate them to safety, stalks you & bites your ankles, gets UP high trees but cannot get DOWN, will not eat the same treat twice in 1 day, has to have a new clean bowl for each treat, sleeps on bookshelves or in boxes instead of one of his 3 cat beds.

It’s ‘Leemo Cat’ back. ‘Mum Jane’ gave me a letter to-day (eeek!) & told me to go climb our tree, & concentrate whilst reading it; to think about it intensely, then come back and we would discuss the contents of the missive. Crikey..what is going on with her? However, being the obeyful feline I am, I tucked the letter under my le front leg (lucky I have 4 in all) & skilfully navigated up the tree with my other front leg’s sharp claws. I settled into a nook in our tree and opened the letter. Hmmm!

How very mysterious?

You also mention that if he does not receive 3 brushes daily he pushes his brush around noisily whilst yowling. You then state that if there is one speck of disorder in his Number 1 or Number 2 litter trays, he yowls loudly enough to alert your neighbours until the trays are immaculately presented. Your letter DID rather go on so I will not allude to the rest of the 4 page listing of ‘Leemo’s’ misdemeanours. A er a meeting to discuss whether he would be suitable for enrolment and training in our distinguished Academy, I have to inform you the motion was defeated unanimously by our Committee, and that we cannot accept ‘Leemo’ as a pupil. Our decision was not taken lightly and took into consideration the adverse in uence he may have on the other more delicately re ned felines under our guidance. We engaged the services of a Distinguished Cat Behaviouralist, and his counsel was that ‘Leemo’ be sent to the Cat Correctional Facility at Broadmoor. For your bene t, he also stated that you need to be aware that you any attempts to instil appropriate behaviours into Leemo are tad too late; it is probable that the reason for Leemo’s lacking in this area lies fair and square with yourself as an over indulgent, remiss & silly parent who has been outsmarted by a most cunning & mega intelligent cat; totally adept at manipulation. In other words, suck it up! In closing, I send you all the very best of British. With regards, Wally Waddy-Woolly, JP. CRIKEY, I almost fell out of my tree nook. Hmmm? What to do? How DARE Mum say those things about me. e fact that they’re true is irrelevant. MY belief in life that we ALL have foibles but we must accept and support each other thru both good and bad. So, I’m going inside to bite Mum’s ankle, then purr happily simply to confuse her AND, I’m not going to Broadmoor. So there! Nitey, (with purrsies) Leemo.