Bulldogs utility Ben Wyborn is not surprised by Kurri Kurri’s outstanding start to the season, sitting clear second on the Newcastle RL title with four wins and a game in hand.
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Fresh from a starting role as hooker with the NSW Pioneers, Wyborn puts it down to hard work, belief, team spirit and some astute recruiting.
The first three ingredients also firmly apply to Wyborn’s stellar start to the year in which he was rewarded firstly with selection in the Newcastle Rebels and then called into the Pioneers side alongside great friend and teammate Mitch Cullen.
Wyborn, 29, said making the Pioneers, a combined Newcastle Rugby League-Ron Massey Cup side, was a great honour and an experience he would cherish all the more for sharing it with Cullen.
“We only had a couple of days together but everyone got to know each other pretty quick,” Wyborn said of his time with the Pioneers.
“I only got the late call up, it was a bit of a rush. It was nice to get in there especially with Mitch and some of the other Newy boys.”
While Wyborn and Cullen were part of the Pioneer’s 46-16 loss to the Queensland Rangers their teammates had a light training session on Saturday as their game against Western Suburbs was rescheduled.
Wyborn, 29, said the Bulldogs should be ready to fire against the Maitland Pickers on Saturday despite not playing for three weeks.
“They trained last Saturday, and had a couple of extra sessions. With the rain we had a big session in the gym on Tuesday night.
“We’re just hoping the rain holds out as it would be a month without a game for most of the boys.”
Wyborn, who made his first grade debut in 2012 under then captain coach Todd Polglaise, said he was enjoying being part of the leadership group.
“It’s funny how times change, I’m one of the older guys now and it’s been good working with the younger players giving them tips on how to go about things, positioning themselves, encouraging them on the field,” he said.
He said the club had set themselves up with one of the best pre-seasons he had experienced in his time at the Bulldogs.
“Josh Day our strength and conditioning coach put us through a great program. It’s the hardest we’ve worked,” he said.
“(Coach) Ronnie (Griffiths) said he can give us all the tools and training we need but everyone has to buy in otherwise it’s not going to work.
“At the moment everyone is doing all the little extras, the one percenters to try and keep us up there near the top.
“We’ll need to all those little things well on Saturday.
“It will be a big test against the Pickers, they have a very good side.”