Bonham caps sensational 2017 with the Bob Weir medal
Nick Guthrie - Daily Liberal
Bob Weir medalist Alex Bonham raced 80 metres to score what was a massive try in Sunday’s Group 11 grand final.
And, with about 10 metres to go on his dash for the line, he turned to the chasing Tigers and gave them a little grin.
He produces the same smile when asked about the moment post game.
“You can get a little bit cheeky sometimes … but you’ve got to be careful,” Bonham laughed, a worthy recipient of the 2017 man of the match medal.
“That 80 metre one, I hope I don’t have to do that ever again.”
Bonham crossed for a double in the 34-18 win over the Tigers, but it was his first four-pointer than swung momentum the Fishies’ way.
With Nyngan on the attack, captain-coach Stewart Mills shifted left and shaped to pass long – Bonham knew it too.
He intercepted the pass, then raced the length of the field to score a great grand final try and effectively swing what could have been a two point deficit, had Nyngan scored, out to a 22-12 lead.
“That line was getting further and further away every metre, I’ll tell you,” he said.
“I’m glad the second one was only five metres out.”
Bonham kicked two goals in the victory as well before being awarded the Bob Weir medal as man of the match from the man himself.
“It’s a very big honour to earn this,” Bonham said.
“The effort we put in, anyone could have won it.”
He said Sunday’s triumph was as satisfying as his been part of, after critics ruled CYMS out of premiership contention following back-to-back losses in the final two regular season rounds of 2017.
“We dropped off there a bit and people were saying it was a good thing we got beaten and that we won’t go further … this is a massive effort,” Bonham said.
“Credit to Nyngan, they’ve been great all year too. Millsy got them going this year. He really got them up there. They deserved to be here today.”