By Jon Geddes

THE shock comeback of Warringah club legend “Slammin” Sam Ward after two years in retirement has added another layer of intrigue to Saturday’s big “battle of the beaches” between Manly and the Rats at Manly Oval.

The former first grade skipper, and one of the Shute Shield’s toughest forwards over the past decade,  scored the deciding try for the Rats second grade side in their win over Hunter at Narrabeen on Saturday.

He then played the final five minutes in first grade as the Wildfires scored a thumping 52-20 win which  cemented their spot on top off the ladder.

It was an amazing effort from Ward considering it came after two seasons on the sideline. It really was like old times as the 33-year-old produced a trademark physical and committed performance.

It demonstrated his presence will provide a massive lift for Warringah who sit last on the ladder and look to get their campaign back on track.

The return of Ward, hero of the club’s epic 2017 Shute Shield grand final win over Norths, sprinkles more  spice on what is always a hotly contested local derby.

But coach Mike Ruthven played his cards close to his chest when asked the role Ward would play this weekend.

“We’ll work out what Sam does next week,” he said. “A guy like Wardy brings a lot of experience, a lot of presence. It will take him a little while to settle back in, but just to have him around is positive.” 

A RUGBY REMEDY

WARD revealed to Rugby News that he suffered a case of itchy feet and the best treatment was to pull on a pair of rugby boots.

“I have been watching and wanted be involved,” Ward said. “All I have been doing is working and uni and ‘dad life’.”

He has been busy running his successful physiotherapy business PhysioWard on the northern beaches.

“I was thinking ‘it is pretty easy just to go back to footy’ so I started training five weeks ago.

“I didn’t tell anyone that I was definitely going to play, I just did it each week and slowly I felt better and more confident.

“It wasn’t necessarily the plan, but it’s just hard when you stop playing footy and all you are doing working and trying to exercise outside of that when you don’t have structure.”

Ward enjoyed his return but was understandably disappointed with the first grade result and admitted his  fitness needs work.

His comeback is timely with the Manly game next weekend, but he was unaware that was the case he locked in the date for his comeback.

In a strange twist of fate, Ward’s last game was against Manly at Rat Park in 2021.

MIND GAMES

WITH the fire back in his belly, a refreshed Ward is now looking forward to the rest of the season.

“As many games as my wife gives me,” he laughed.

“I know we have our backs against the wall at the moment and I feel I can contribute – and mentally I want to contribute.

“When I stopped playing it wasn’t because of my body, I stopped because I was mentally tired.

“I enjoy being around the guys, it is something that doesn’t leave you.”

ALL IN THE FAMILY

ANOTHER twist in Saturday’s game is that Sam Lane and Matt McGoldrick, who were both Manly stalwarts, are now a part of Warrngah’s coaching staff.

McGoldrick’s association with the Marlins goes back to 1998 when he started playing Colts.

In the intervening years he was a dedicated servant to the club as player, general manager and a coach from the Colts up to first grade.

And McGoldrick is quite relaxed about going back to Manly Oval wearing a green polo.

“That stuff doesn’t bother me,”  he said. “It’s weird for my mates and my family more than me.

“I turned up the other day wearing my (Rats) shirt and my son said ‘what are you doing?’ He’s 12 and said ‘I hope the scrum goes well, but I hope the Rats lose.’

“I’m here now and that’s all I worry about.”

McGoldrick loves coaching and is just happy being back doing that at a club he likes.

With a wide grin, Lane, who was the long-time Manly midfield general, sidestepped any comment about his return to his old home ground.