“It means everything”: Bostock proud to represent Stingrays, Group 7 in incredible Game III victory

Tallon Smith

Stingrays Shellharbour product Jack Bostock has spoken of his pride in representing Group 7 in the interstate arena after a successful State of Origin debut for New South Wales in the series decider on Wednesday night.

Bostock played on the wing for the Blues as they shocked Queensland with a dominant 30-12 win at Suncorp Stadium to clinch the series in a third and deciding game.

Speaking to Channel Nine’s Andrew Johns in the dressing rooms after the game, Bostock said the chance to represent his state, home club, and local competition at the highest level of domestic rugby league meant “everything” to him.

“Growing up, I lived and breathed the New South Wales Blues, and I always said to myself if I got an opportunity to go out there I would make the most of it, and I just hope I have done all my friends, family, and where I am from, Shellharbour, proud,” he said.

“Coming here and seeing my name on the locker and ‘made in Shellharbour’, it just steels you for a game, that’s the stuff you love.

“Hopefully I can give another couple of young kids something to look up to and something to strive for.”

Bostock performed strongly on the wing as New South Wales raced out to an 18-0 lead at the half-hour mark through a double to Nathan Cleary and another try to Cameron Murray, before further tries to Bradman Best and Hudson Young wrapped up a famous victory on opposition soil.

“Positive attitude” key as Jets snap streak against Gorillas

Returning to local action from round 12 of the Group 7 season, the Nowra-Bomaderry Jets continued their turnaround in recent weeks with a 20-14 victory over the Warilla-Lake South Gorillas at the Bomaderry Sports Complex.

While the win snaps a seven-game losning streak for the Jets, the result follows consecutive strong showings against top two sides Gerringong and Albion Park-Oak Flats, where the Nowra club went close to upsets in 28-18 and 13-12 losses respectively.

After a lean run and a number of close defeats in the opening half of the year, Jets coach Zac Kershaw said a focus on positivity in recent weeks, as well as the added motivation of winning in the competition’s NAIDOC Round helped the side record its first win since late April.

“It was good, especially for NAIDOC Week, everyone showed up and had a go,” he said.

“With the positive attitude, we all turned it around, we can play footy.

“Now we’re just playing footy, not worrying about the score, not worrying about what’s happening around us, just having a go really.

“We weren’t winning and we were starting to argue and stuff, so now we are just playing positive, not worrying about the score, just playing footy and enjoying it, so we will see where it takes us.”

Nowra-Bomaderry Jets captain-coach Zac Kershaw scores against Albion Park-Oak Flats at the Group 7 Magic Round earlier this year (Photo: Tallon Smith)

Kershaw said that a number of the side’s leaders stood up in the match, with Dylan Farrell, Tomasi Baravilala and Ryan James all contributing significantly to the victory.

“[Tomasi] played big minutes, which was good, because we were short on some middles, [and] his talk and attitude in the middle just helps a lot,” Kershaw said.

“[Ryan] is a leader from the front, especially with his carries, he just rips in and speaks more with his actions than his words.”

In other results from round 12, Kiama took a local derby victory with a late try to defeat Gerringong 14-12, while the Sharks took out the Shellharbour Showdown 22-10 over Stingrays, Jamberoo emerged victorious 32-20 against Berry-Shoalhaven Heads, and Albion Park-Oak Flats continued its flawless run with a 60-0 win over Milton-Ulladulla.