Rugby Union: Nick Wiseman's association with Tamworth a deep-rooted one

The backrower's brother Sam and father David, and grandfather Lex before that (he is on one of the boards in the clubhouse) have all pulled on the Tamworth jersey. As have his three uncles - Alec, John and Peter.

It's the kind of legacy that makes it little surprise that Wiseman wound up playing rugby, and in the black and white.

But the pull to the game is more than family tradition.

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He simply "likes the game a bit more", and the associated aspects like the crowd and the culture.

First joining the Magpies as a junior, the now 25-year old enjoyed a bit of a breakout 2021.

At the club's presentation night last month he not only picked up the Danny O'Sullivan Memorial Award as the best and fairest player in first grade, but also the Bernard Bentley Trophy for the [club] player of the year.

"It was good, a good night, got a couple of awards, which I wasn't expecting," he said.

By day "fixing trucks" as he put it, (he works in the workshop maintenance division at Parry Logistics), Wiseman has been a bit of a 'mr fix-it' for the Magpies, playing wherever as needed - even in the centres on occasion.

All through his junior days, and for much of his senior footy with the Magpies, predominantly playing hooker, he relished his switch to the backrow this season.

It is where his preference is to play.

"I enjoy the work around the ruck and the breakdown," he said.

He added: "I think it suited me a lot more with the technique I've been working on, and being a bit fitter this year, and working a bit harder at training."

Last season he played mostly played third grade, filling in for first grade when needed.

"I wasn't going to play at all with the coronavirus, but then I decided we had a fair few numbers and a fair few mates that were still playing so I thought I'd play again," he said.

"And I reckon I had one of my best seasons that I've played."

He felt like he had built on that this season, before COVID made for a bit of a bitter end to the season.

"It was a bit of a shame how this season finished. I think we were just starting to get together and got a few of our young boys from Sydney back and that definitely strengthened up the side," Wiseman said.

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