Pat Keen was something of a mystery man coming into the Central North season.
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Outside of Walcha no-one really knew much about the talented newcomer that had vaulted his way into the Central North side after impressing in their trial against Mid North Coast, or where he had come from.
Turns out New England second grade.
Originally from Garah, Keen played his early rugby with the Goondiwindi Emus before moving north to Queensland and playing with the University of Queensland up there.
He then returned to NSW to help his dad out on his cattle property at Guyra, and played the season with the Ghosts, helping them to the second grade grand final where they were upset by St Alberts.
A key part of what was an undefeated season until the decider, fair to say Keen’s talents were a bit wasted.
Keen to challenge himself and feeling an affinity with the “bushies”, as he referred to them, he linked up with the Rams.
“It’s definitely a step up,” he said of the Central North competition.
It is a 2hr 20min round trip to get to training, although travel is the nature of the beast of bush rugby.
The scuttlebutt going into the season was that the Rams had lost Country centre Soni Halanukonuka to Newcastle, but had picked some handy players.
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