Reece Jaeger returned home to Gunnedah in March with nothing left to prove to himself as a footballer and with no regrets, having grown as a man and exceeded his childhood league expectations.
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The 26-year-old left Gunnedah straight after finishing high school, picked in the Australian Institute of Sport under-18 side who toured England, Wales and France.
He signed with the Sydney Roosters, playing under-20s for the club in 2010, and then played under-20s with South Sydney in 2011 before returning to the Roosters via their then feeder club, Newtown, and winning the NSW Cup in 2012.
While he never played an NRL premiership match, he played NRL trial games. He had spent the past five years playing in Wollongong, winning the 2014 premiership with Thirroul under former NRL star Nathan Fein. He then moved to Collegians.
After more than eight years away from Gunnedah, he felt the time was right to return and feel his hometown and family’s embrace again, without having to leave after a week, as had been the case.
On Saturday afternoon at Kitchener Park, the strapping centre lined up with his younger brother, back-rower Hayden, whom he had not played with since high school until this season, in the inaugural Boyde Campbell Cup clash against Boggabri. Gunnedah rebounded from their first loss of the season, a 42-16 away defeat to North Tamworth last round, to beat a plucky Roos 48-34 in the round five encounter.
Jaeger believes that the Bulldogs played to 70 per cent of their ability against Boggabri, and are yet to deliver their A-game this year. They were not lacking confidence, he said, but were guilty of “dumb” play at stages after moving away from the game plan.
He spent Saturday’s match trying to prevent that from happening, constantly talking to his teammates. He’s happy to impart his experience on the side. He’s happy to be home. “I think it [coming home] was more to be around family again,” he said. “I haven’t had that [for a long time].”
Jaeger also craved a change of scenery, having lived in Sydney since leaving Gunnedah. “The eight and a half years [in Sydney] was unreal .. It was a great opportunity. I learned a lot of stuff. A lot of eye-opening stuff. [I] played some top-level footy, and I just thought it was the right time to come back.
“I had thoughts about it [returning home] but I wasn’t going to make calls until I was really certain about it. And then it all fell into place once I contacted the club and a few work places around town.”
On Saturday, Gunnedah appeared to have an iron grip on the match in the second half. But Boggabri, chasing their first win of the season, would not submit – even when Roos halfback Kyle Gallen was sent off in the 54th minute. He had initially been given 10 minutes in the bin, but presumably was marched for not agreeing with the decision. Two Gallen kicks inside Gunnedah’s 10-metre zone led to first-half tries.
It had looked like it was going to be 18-all at halftime, until Bulldogs fullback Dylan Lake skirted the right touchline to score a long-range try just before the break, handing the home side a 22-18 lead heading into the second half. Lake and Bulldogs centre Aaron Donnelly bagged doubles.
It was 22-all when Roos winger Nick Hobden scored in the corner in the 42nd minute.
Donnelly scored a close-range try on the left edge in the 46th minute to make it 26-22, which was soon followed by Bulldogs replacement Kye Conlon’s barging try under the uprights. Five-eighth DJ Smith converted and it was 32-22.
It was 38-22 when Hayden Smith – filling in at halfback for Matt Brady, who was knocked out in the loss to North Tamworth – found himself in open space about 30m out from the Roos’ tryline and scored under the posts.
Roos prop Ben Haire kept his side in the match when he crashed over in the left corner 18 minutes from fulltime. It was 38-28.
With 11 minutes to go in the match, Haire scored again and fullback Jayde Campbell converted from in front of the uprights. It was 38-34 and the Roos faithful roared their approval – the fightback ending when Hayden Jaeger and Hayden Smith crossed.
Bulldogs captain Callum Hayne was man of the match.
Reece Jaeger said: “If we can stick to what does work instead of trying to play those two or three plays ahead – play in the moment, play to what works – we’re gonna stick it and put that 80 minutes together. And when we do, we’ll click.”
Gunnedah 48 (D Lake 2, A Donnelly 2, R Orcher, H Smith, C Hayne, H Jaeger, K Conlon tries; D Smith 6 goals) d Boggabri 34 (B Haire 2, J Campbell, N Hobden, D Nean, J Urquhart tries; K Gallen 3 goals, Campbell 2 goals).
Best and fairest: Hayne, three points, Mitch Campbell, two points, Hayden Smith, one point.
