An ode to the NSW Possums XII of 2022 (by an interested onlooker)
Gents of the Mighty ‘Possums’ aka the ‘Blue Tongues’, aka ‘National 55’s Champions’... by now the team has said its goodbyes and travelled to different corners of the Great State of New South Wales, as we resume normal programming.
It would be wise to simply reiterate what other team members have stated about what a great week we’ve had playing the game we all love for NSW and bonding as teammates and fighting hard to be crowned Champions. In my experience it’s not a “given” on these tours and in these tournaments to all get along so well. Of course, winning medallions, corflute signs and trophies and the respect of peers outside the group helps. But it’s not everything. What really matters is the trust and comradeship that we all put in each other inside our group – sometimes against better or prior judgement (!!) and being prepared to work for each other through the tough stuff, through the self-doubt, self-loathing (!), the anxiety close games create and to put all that on repeat for 4 x 45 over matches. And all that, notwithstanding sore knees and shoulders, Achilles tendons and other nagging complaints that it’s absolutely natural to be feeling at 55 years +. That is what really matters.
