Ben Batger: A lot of my best memories in life are with Eastwood rugby
By Matt Findlay
It may be a simple, off-the-cuff comment from Woodies legend Ben Batger, but there’s no better way to signify how much the club means to him and, in turn, how proud he is to be at the helm in 2019.
The club’s leading all-time point-scorer and a veteran of three Shute Shield titles, Batger’s come full circle since retiring after the 2015 premiership win and, having taken the reins from three-time premiership-winning coach John Manenti, made the perfect start to his tenure last weekend with a 40-12 victory over Randwick.
For most his transition from player to coach looked a natural one and it seemed almost inevitable he’d end up in charge at his beloved club, particularly considering his role as one of Manenti’s three deputies in 2018.
The influence of Batger, Andrew Clyne and Matty Nilan was huge last year considering Manenti’s parallel commitments with the Australian women’s sevens outfit, and the season served as a perfect way to finish that a