By LIZ MOORE

For former Australian schoolboy lock Matt Willshire, 2020 has been all about regaining confidence in his body while playing 80 minutes for Norths each week. In the 38-21 loss against Brothers on the weekend, it finally kicked back in for him.

Having endured double ACL injuries in a beleaguered time with the Chiefs Under 20s in New Zealand, Kiwi-born Willshire came back to Australia having only been fit to play five or six games in 18 months across the Tasman.

Willshire then took two years off rugby while undergoing three full knee reconstructions, before he started to look around for a club at the middle of 2019.

“Norths seemed like a club where I could have good game time each week and not be overshadowed by older, more experienced players and just have my own opportunity because it’s quite a young team at Norths. I felt well suited there,” said the 22-year-old.