NRRRL: Cudgen Hornets pay tribute to hospital-bound president by winning three grand finals
With president Mick Channels watching on from hospital, the Cudgen Hornets dug deep to secure a famous day for the club.
Local Sport
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There is never a shortage of motivation when it comes to grand finals.
For teams which have worked together all year, whether it is doing laps up sand dunes or around country paddocks, the big dance is an opportunity to cap off a year’s worth of hard work and camaraderie with the ultimate glory.
However for the Cudgen Hornets, there was an extra motivating factor on Sunday as the club took out a hat-trick of grand final wins in the Northern Rivers Regional Rugby League - their president and talisman Mick Channels.
Last month Channels was involved in a serious car accident, and is lucky to be alive.
“He was in the ICU for two weeks,” says reserve grade coach Mitch Armour. “He’s out of that now but he’s still in hospital and I think he’ll be in there for a while.”
While devastated by the accident, the club was determined to honour its president, with the Bilambil East Sports Field filled with Cudgen supporters wearing shirts bearing the words “Bring it home for Mick”.
“The effort from all three teams to get it done for Mick was outstanding. It was just an awesome day for the club.”
The tone was set in the morning with the ladies league tag team, who scored a try in the last minute to secure a thrilling 14-10 win over Lismore’s Marist Brothers Ramettes, thus completing the minor-major premiership double.
Word got back to Mick in hospital, and his response was swiftly shared on the club’s Facebook page.
“Mick is very chuffed you girls won. He had a tear in his eye,” one family member wrote.
The under 18s side picked up where the ladies left off, putting on a clinic to defeat the Ballina Seagulls 40-14.
Then it was up to reserve grade. While the team had finished last season in first position, Covid had robbed them of a chance to pick up premiership silverware.
On the back of a massive second half defensive display, the Hornets defeated the Murwillumbah Mustangs 24-12 to make it three from three on a famous day for the club.
“It was a little bit of unfinished business from last year, but this year we got the job done, which is really good,” says Armour.
Celebrations then moved on to the Kingscliff Bowling Club, where the club song was belted out numerous times over the course of the night.
“We went back to the bowling club for a few hours, then we came back down to the fields and kicked on late into the night – and even into the morning,” laughs Armour.
And while the club partied long and hard, they’re not quite done yet, with mad Monday celebrations continuing on throughout the day.
“It’s been a great couple of days for the club,” says Armour. “We’re going to enjoy it.”
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