Latest news with #Waratah
Herald Sun
27-05-2025
- Business
- Herald Sun
Explorers Pod: Waratah Minerals
Don't miss out on the headlines from Stockhead. Followed categories will be added to My News. Stockhead's 'Garimpeiro' columnist Barry FitzGerald is back in the studio for another instalment of The Explorers Podcast. In this edition, Barry looks to NSW's Lachlan Ford Belt, where Waratah Minerals (ASX:WTM) is busy on the ground at its wholly owned Spur gold-copper project. Just recently, the company mobilised a third rig to the project in a bid to rapidly grow resources and fast-track step-out drilling. Listen to find out more. This podcast was developed in collaboration with Waratah Minerals, a Stockhead advertiser at the time of publishing. The interviews and discussions in this podcast are opinions only and not financial or investment advice. Listeners should obtain independent advice based on their own circumstances before making any financial decisions. Originally published as Explorers Podcast: Drills turning as Waratah stays busy in NSW's Lachlan Fold Belt
The Advertiser
23-05-2025
- Sport
- The Advertiser
'Water all around': Star defender flooded in as multiple codes, players affected
Several sporting competitions have been abandoned throughout the Hunter this weekend due to extreme wet weather while some teams playing on are likely to be without personnel due to flooding. Hunter rugby union and AFL Hunter Central Coast junior and senior competitions have been called off, along with Newcastle Hunter Rugby League, Hunter Junior Rugby League and the joint zones (Newcastle, Macquarie and Hunter Valley) interdistrict and miniroos soccer. However, at least two community soccer clubs have booked synthetic fields at Lake Macquarie Regional Football Facility to get some miniroos games played for their younger members. Some community soccer teams are yet to play a match after five weekends of competition. In NPL Northern NSW, defending men's champions and premiers Broadmeadow had a fifth successive match postponed on Friday night. Newcastle netball cancelled its Friday night programs and a representative carnival scheduled for National Park on Sunday but hoped to proceed with Saturday competition, weather pending. Waratah face a tough task in their attempt to secure a third straight victory in championship netball at 2.30pm. Waratah, on nine points and in a two-way tussle for fifth position with Junction, play fourth-placed Souths (11 points) after beating BNC (43-35) then Kotara South (37-29). Coach Dwight Graham said the challenge could become even bigger with both circle defenders - Melanie Coleman and Vivien Rendina - likely to be out. Rendina is unavailable while Coleman, the competition's back-to-back Most Valuable Player, was stranded by floodwaters near Raymond Terrace on Friday. "Mel Coleman, my captain and star defender who the last two year's running has won best player in the grade, is at the moment flooded in," Graham told the Newcastle Herald on Friday. "She's safe and on high ground but she can't get out. She lives northwest of Raymond Terrace. She sent me a video and there's water all around. She's well above it but they can't get out, so there's a fairly high chance that she may not play. "Last week we won the game but there were times where we struggled, and every time we did struggle a bit, she was the one who picked off a few intercepts and lifted the team again, so losing her would be a bit of an issue for us." In other round-six championship exchanges, unbeaten leaders Norths play last-placed Kotara South, West Leagues Balance battle BNC and Junction take on Nova. The Hunter Wildfires women's first-grade team could be without coach Joey de Dassel and a number of players, who are based on the Mid North Coast, when they challenge Parramatta at Eric Tweedale Stadium in Sydney's west on Saturday (4.50pm). Wildfires general manager Stuart Pinkerton said the women's first-grade team would draw on division-two players for their Chikarovski Cup showdown with the Two Blues in Sydney premier rugby union. The women's division-two game has been postponed. "We will have players who will be affected, but we're lucky to be able to draw from two teams now," Pinkerton told the Herald on Friday afternoon. "Some players have been advised not to travel because it's just not safe. "Joey is at Toormina. He's looked at flights and trying to get there is quite expensive at this late stage and the road is still closed, so he's unsure if he's arriving or not yet." Five NPL Men Northern NSW matches, including Broadmeadow's round-14 game against Lambton at Arthur Edden Oval on Friday night, were postponed. A decision on Sunday's fixture (4.30pm) between Weston and Newcastle Olympic at Weston Park is set to be made on Saturday. In NPL Women, two games should get on. The Friday night exchange between New Lambton and Adamstown (8pm) and Saturday's Lake Macquarie-Broadmeadow battle (6pm) were both being played on synthetic pitches at Lake Macquarie Regional Football Facility. Charlestown's match against Olympic at Lisle Carr Oval on Sunday (4pm) has been postponed. In Newcastle Rugby League, the Kurri Kurri v West and Macquarie v The Entrance fixtures have been postponed. Three games are still scheduled for Sunday. Maitland host Central Newcastle (3.15pm), Souths travel to Wyong (3pm) and Cessnock are home to Northern Hawks (3pm). Newcastle men's and women's hockey competition looked set to proceed. In women's action at Broadmeadow on Saturday, unbeaten leaders Oxfords play third-placed Souths (1.45pm) and Uni take on Norah Head (3pm). On the Central Coast, Gosford meet Tigers (3pm). In premier men on Sunday at Broadmeadow, undefeated Gosford battle fifth-placed Tigers (1pm) and fourth-placed Wests play last-placed Maitland (2.30pm). Junior boys hockey competition at Newcastle and Maitland on Friday night was cancelled. In Australian Ice Hockey League, the Newcastle Northstars have an away weekend double-header against Adelaide. Several sporting competitions have been abandoned throughout the Hunter this weekend due to extreme wet weather while some teams playing on are likely to be without personnel due to flooding. Hunter rugby union and AFL Hunter Central Coast junior and senior competitions have been called off, along with Newcastle Hunter Rugby League, Hunter Junior Rugby League and the joint zones (Newcastle, Macquarie and Hunter Valley) interdistrict and miniroos soccer. However, at least two community soccer clubs have booked synthetic fields at Lake Macquarie Regional Football Facility to get some miniroos games played for their younger members. Some community soccer teams are yet to play a match after five weekends of competition. In NPL Northern NSW, defending men's champions and premiers Broadmeadow had a fifth successive match postponed on Friday night. Newcastle netball cancelled its Friday night programs and a representative carnival scheduled for National Park on Sunday but hoped to proceed with Saturday competition, weather pending. Waratah face a tough task in their attempt to secure a third straight victory in championship netball at 2.30pm. Waratah, on nine points and in a two-way tussle for fifth position with Junction, play fourth-placed Souths (11 points) after beating BNC (43-35) then Kotara South (37-29). Coach Dwight Graham said the challenge could become even bigger with both circle defenders - Melanie Coleman and Vivien Rendina - likely to be out. Rendina is unavailable while Coleman, the competition's back-to-back Most Valuable Player, was stranded by floodwaters near Raymond Terrace on Friday. "Mel Coleman, my captain and star defender who the last two year's running has won best player in the grade, is at the moment flooded in," Graham told the Newcastle Herald on Friday. "She's safe and on high ground but she can't get out. She lives northwest of Raymond Terrace. She sent me a video and there's water all around. She's well above it but they can't get out, so there's a fairly high chance that she may not play. "Last week we won the game but there were times where we struggled, and every time we did struggle a bit, she was the one who picked off a few intercepts and lifted the team again, so losing her would be a bit of an issue for us." In other round-six championship exchanges, unbeaten leaders Norths play last-placed Kotara South, West Leagues Balance battle BNC and Junction take on Nova. The Hunter Wildfires women's first-grade team could be without coach Joey de Dassel and a number of players, who are based on the Mid North Coast, when they challenge Parramatta at Eric Tweedale Stadium in Sydney's west on Saturday (4.50pm). Wildfires general manager Stuart Pinkerton said the women's first-grade team would draw on division-two players for their Chikarovski Cup showdown with the Two Blues in Sydney premier rugby union. The women's division-two game has been postponed. "We will have players who will be affected, but we're lucky to be able to draw from two teams now," Pinkerton told the Herald on Friday afternoon. "Some players have been advised not to travel because it's just not safe. "Joey is at Toormina. He's looked at flights and trying to get there is quite expensive at this late stage and the road is still closed, so he's unsure if he's arriving or not yet." Five NPL Men Northern NSW matches, including Broadmeadow's round-14 game against Lambton at Arthur Edden Oval on Friday night, were postponed. A decision on Sunday's fixture (4.30pm) between Weston and Newcastle Olympic at Weston Park is set to be made on Saturday. In NPL Women, two games should get on. The Friday night exchange between New Lambton and Adamstown (8pm) and Saturday's Lake Macquarie-Broadmeadow battle (6pm) were both being played on synthetic pitches at Lake Macquarie Regional Football Facility. Charlestown's match against Olympic at Lisle Carr Oval on Sunday (4pm) has been postponed. In Newcastle Rugby League, the Kurri Kurri v West and Macquarie v The Entrance fixtures have been postponed. Three games are still scheduled for Sunday. Maitland host Central Newcastle (3.15pm), Souths travel to Wyong (3pm) and Cessnock are home to Northern Hawks (3pm). Newcastle men's and women's hockey competition looked set to proceed. In women's action at Broadmeadow on Saturday, unbeaten leaders Oxfords play third-placed Souths (1.45pm) and Uni take on Norah Head (3pm). On the Central Coast, Gosford meet Tigers (3pm). In premier men on Sunday at Broadmeadow, undefeated Gosford battle fifth-placed Tigers (1pm) and fourth-placed Wests play last-placed Maitland (2.30pm). Junior boys hockey competition at Newcastle and Maitland on Friday night was cancelled. In Australian Ice Hockey League, the Newcastle Northstars have an away weekend double-header against Adelaide. Several sporting competitions have been abandoned throughout the Hunter this weekend due to extreme wet weather while some teams playing on are likely to be without personnel due to flooding. Hunter rugby union and AFL Hunter Central Coast junior and senior competitions have been called off, along with Newcastle Hunter Rugby League, Hunter Junior Rugby League and the joint zones (Newcastle, Macquarie and Hunter Valley) interdistrict and miniroos soccer. However, at least two community soccer clubs have booked synthetic fields at Lake Macquarie Regional Football Facility to get some miniroos games played for their younger members. Some community soccer teams are yet to play a match after five weekends of competition. In NPL Northern NSW, defending men's champions and premiers Broadmeadow had a fifth successive match postponed on Friday night. Newcastle netball cancelled its Friday night programs and a representative carnival scheduled for National Park on Sunday but hoped to proceed with Saturday competition, weather pending. Waratah face a tough task in their attempt to secure a third straight victory in championship netball at 2.30pm. Waratah, on nine points and in a two-way tussle for fifth position with Junction, play fourth-placed Souths (11 points) after beating BNC (43-35) then Kotara South (37-29). Coach Dwight Graham said the challenge could become even bigger with both circle defenders - Melanie Coleman and Vivien Rendina - likely to be out. Rendina is unavailable while Coleman, the competition's back-to-back Most Valuable Player, was stranded by floodwaters near Raymond Terrace on Friday. "Mel Coleman, my captain and star defender who the last two year's running has won best player in the grade, is at the moment flooded in," Graham told the Newcastle Herald on Friday. "She's safe and on high ground but she can't get out. She lives northwest of Raymond Terrace. She sent me a video and there's water all around. She's well above it but they can't get out, so there's a fairly high chance that she may not play. "Last week we won the game but there were times where we struggled, and every time we did struggle a bit, she was the one who picked off a few intercepts and lifted the team again, so losing her would be a bit of an issue for us." In other round-six championship exchanges, unbeaten leaders Norths play last-placed Kotara South, West Leagues Balance battle BNC and Junction take on Nova. The Hunter Wildfires women's first-grade team could be without coach Joey de Dassel and a number of players, who are based on the Mid North Coast, when they challenge Parramatta at Eric Tweedale Stadium in Sydney's west on Saturday (4.50pm). Wildfires general manager Stuart Pinkerton said the women's first-grade team would draw on division-two players for their Chikarovski Cup showdown with the Two Blues in Sydney premier rugby union. The women's division-two game has been postponed. "We will have players who will be affected, but we're lucky to be able to draw from two teams now," Pinkerton told the Herald on Friday afternoon. "Some players have been advised not to travel because it's just not safe. "Joey is at Toormina. He's looked at flights and trying to get there is quite expensive at this late stage and the road is still closed, so he's unsure if he's arriving or not yet." Five NPL Men Northern NSW matches, including Broadmeadow's round-14 game against Lambton at Arthur Edden Oval on Friday night, were postponed. A decision on Sunday's fixture (4.30pm) between Weston and Newcastle Olympic at Weston Park is set to be made on Saturday. In NPL Women, two games should get on. The Friday night exchange between New Lambton and Adamstown (8pm) and Saturday's Lake Macquarie-Broadmeadow battle (6pm) were both being played on synthetic pitches at Lake Macquarie Regional Football Facility. Charlestown's match against Olympic at Lisle Carr Oval on Sunday (4pm) has been postponed. In Newcastle Rugby League, the Kurri Kurri v West and Macquarie v The Entrance fixtures have been postponed. Three games are still scheduled for Sunday. Maitland host Central Newcastle (3.15pm), Souths travel to Wyong (3pm) and Cessnock are home to Northern Hawks (3pm). Newcastle men's and women's hockey competition looked set to proceed. In women's action at Broadmeadow on Saturday, unbeaten leaders Oxfords play third-placed Souths (1.45pm) and Uni take on Norah Head (3pm). On the Central Coast, Gosford meet Tigers (3pm). In premier men on Sunday at Broadmeadow, undefeated Gosford battle fifth-placed Tigers (1pm) and fourth-placed Wests play last-placed Maitland (2.30pm). Junior boys hockey competition at Newcastle and Maitland on Friday night was cancelled. In Australian Ice Hockey League, the Newcastle Northstars have an away weekend double-header against Adelaide. Several sporting competitions have been abandoned throughout the Hunter this weekend due to extreme wet weather while some teams playing on are likely to be without personnel due to flooding. Hunter rugby union and AFL Hunter Central Coast junior and senior competitions have been called off, along with Newcastle Hunter Rugby League, Hunter Junior Rugby League and the joint zones (Newcastle, Macquarie and Hunter Valley) interdistrict and miniroos soccer. However, at least two community soccer clubs have booked synthetic fields at Lake Macquarie Regional Football Facility to get some miniroos games played for their younger members. Some community soccer teams are yet to play a match after five weekends of competition. In NPL Northern NSW, defending men's champions and premiers Broadmeadow had a fifth successive match postponed on Friday night. Newcastle netball cancelled its Friday night programs and a representative carnival scheduled for National Park on Sunday but hoped to proceed with Saturday competition, weather pending. Waratah face a tough task in their attempt to secure a third straight victory in championship netball at 2.30pm. Waratah, on nine points and in a two-way tussle for fifth position with Junction, play fourth-placed Souths (11 points) after beating BNC (43-35) then Kotara South (37-29). Coach Dwight Graham said the challenge could become even bigger with both circle defenders - Melanie Coleman and Vivien Rendina - likely to be out. Rendina is unavailable while Coleman, the competition's back-to-back Most Valuable Player, was stranded by floodwaters near Raymond Terrace on Friday. "Mel Coleman, my captain and star defender who the last two year's running has won best player in the grade, is at the moment flooded in," Graham told the Newcastle Herald on Friday. "She's safe and on high ground but she can't get out. She lives northwest of Raymond Terrace. She sent me a video and there's water all around. She's well above it but they can't get out, so there's a fairly high chance that she may not play. "Last week we won the game but there were times where we struggled, and every time we did struggle a bit, she was the one who picked off a few intercepts and lifted the team again, so losing her would be a bit of an issue for us." In other round-six championship exchanges, unbeaten leaders Norths play last-placed Kotara South, West Leagues Balance battle BNC and Junction take on Nova. The Hunter Wildfires women's first-grade team could be without coach Joey de Dassel and a number of players, who are based on the Mid North Coast, when they challenge Parramatta at Eric Tweedale Stadium in Sydney's west on Saturday (4.50pm). Wildfires general manager Stuart Pinkerton said the women's first-grade team would draw on division-two players for their Chikarovski Cup showdown with the Two Blues in Sydney premier rugby union. The women's division-two game has been postponed. "We will have players who will be affected, but we're lucky to be able to draw from two teams now," Pinkerton told the Herald on Friday afternoon. "Some players have been advised not to travel because it's just not safe. "Joey is at Toormina. He's looked at flights and trying to get there is quite expensive at this late stage and the road is still closed, so he's unsure if he's arriving or not yet." Five NPL Men Northern NSW matches, including Broadmeadow's round-14 game against Lambton at Arthur Edden Oval on Friday night, were postponed. A decision on Sunday's fixture (4.30pm) between Weston and Newcastle Olympic at Weston Park is set to be made on Saturday. In NPL Women, two games should get on. The Friday night exchange between New Lambton and Adamstown (8pm) and Saturday's Lake Macquarie-Broadmeadow battle (6pm) were both being played on synthetic pitches at Lake Macquarie Regional Football Facility. Charlestown's match against Olympic at Lisle Carr Oval on Sunday (4pm) has been postponed. In Newcastle Rugby League, the Kurri Kurri v West and Macquarie v The Entrance fixtures have been postponed. Three games are still scheduled for Sunday. Maitland host Central Newcastle (3.15pm), Souths travel to Wyong (3pm) and Cessnock are home to Northern Hawks (3pm). Newcastle men's and women's hockey competition looked set to proceed. In women's action at Broadmeadow on Saturday, unbeaten leaders Oxfords play third-placed Souths (1.45pm) and Uni take on Norah Head (3pm). On the Central Coast, Gosford meet Tigers (3pm). In premier men on Sunday at Broadmeadow, undefeated Gosford battle fifth-placed Tigers (1pm) and fourth-placed Wests play last-placed Maitland (2.30pm). Junior boys hockey competition at Newcastle and Maitland on Friday night was cancelled. In Australian Ice Hockey League, the Newcastle Northstars have an away weekend double-header against Adelaide.
West Australian
23-05-2025
- Sport
- West Australian
Super Rugby Pacific: Western Force re-sign Wallabies fly-half Ben Donaldson for two years
Western Force fly-half and Wallabies five-eighth candidate Ben Donaldson has recommitted to the club, penning a new deal to take him through to the 2027 Rugby World Cup. The reigning Nathan Sharpe Medalist and former Waratah knocked back overseas offers to extend his stay out west after agreeing to a new two-year contract with the Force. Donaldson sits second in Super Rugby Pacific this season for both points scored (94) and goal-kicking conversion (76.5 per cent), trailing only All Blacks star Damian McKenzie in both categories. Blessed with line-breaking ability, best-evidenced his his added-time walk-off try against Moana Pasifika in round one, Donaldson's form has put him firmly in the frame for the Wallabies 10 jersey ahead of the British and Irish Lions tour. His decision to stay in Australia will also strengthen his case to start for the Wallabies at stand-off come the 2027 World Cup on home soil, with spots for overseas-based players likely to be limited. The 27-year-old played at the 2023 World Cup and has played 16 times for the Wallabies, including nine Tests last year under Joe Schmidt. Donaldson said he was excited to re-sign with his 'Force family' and had loved his time in WA. 'We have a great culture, which given many of us aren't originally from here, feels like our family in Perth and that makes us a close-knit unit,' he said. 'This season has been disappointing for us, not achieving what we set out to achieve, but there's been glimpses of what we can do and that all fuels the fire. 'I had a few offers from overseas to weigh up, but I'm delighted to be staying in Australian rugby with the Lions tour later this year as well as the Bledisloe Cup in Perth. 'There's obviously also the lure of the home 2027 World Cup, which is extremely motivating. 'I'd love to take the Force and Australian rugby to high levels and leave it in a better place.' Force coach Simon Cron said Donaldson's re-signing was an important step forward for the team. 'He's a leader in our group and a core member of driving the Western Force forward,' he said. 'I know he's disappointed, like I am, about some of the close games this year, but if we can keep the core playing group together, it's going to hold us in great stead moving forward. 'Most importantly, he's an amazing human who continues to thrive in WA and we're looking forward to helping him continue his journey both with us and the Wallabies.'
West Australian
13-05-2025
- Sport
- West Australian
Super Rugby Pacific: Western Force captain Jeremy Williams says team eager to respond after Brumbies loss
Western Force captain Jeremy Williams says his side need no motivation to haul themselves off the canvas and fight for their finals fate against Fijian Drua on Saturday. Needing to win their final two games of the season, collect a couple of bonus points in the process and hope other results go their way, the Force have arrived in Fiji knowing their Super Rugby Pacific top six hopes are fading. Saturday night's draining 33-14 loss to the Brumbies at HBF Park left the Force with a mountain to climb to secure a historic finals berth. Players looked devastated at the game's conclusion, but Williams said he and his teammates were ready to right the wrongs against the Drua. 'We're obviously quite disappointed but we've got to stay level and bring ourselves back to neutral,' he said. 'Whether you win or you get a loss, you've got to reset and go again on Monday, so while we're disappointed, we got some good fixes that we can take out there and get better on during the week, and then go perform come Saturday. 'We've got a pretty energetic group, and it doesn't take much to motivate the boys.' The Force made a staggering 311 tackles to just 85 against the Brumbies, and Williams himself recorded 32 without a single miss — two shy of teammate Carlo Tizzano's season-high for a single game. But the Wallabies lock said while they were proud of the defensive effort, they had been forced to make so many tackles because they kept turning the ball over and surrendering possession to the Brumbies too easily. 'A lot of the things that went wrong in the Brumbies game are things that we can fix and control around our discipline and holding possession,' Williams said. 'We don't want to be making that many tackles in a rugby game and making it hard on ourselves. We've got to be able to hold the ball for long periods of play and make them tackle. If we can do that, and let our backs strike out wide and do a lot of the work, that'll be a positive thing for us. 'For us, it's all about securing the breakdown, making sure that we've got good ball placement, good cleaners, our ruck arrivals are good so we can give the backs good platforms to attack on.' Now in his second season as captain, Williams is set to play his 50th Super Rugby Pacific game against the Drua. After extending his contract with the Force until 2027, the former Waratah said he had grown to love Perth. 'This is my third year, and I absolutely love the club, I love the city as a whole. It's a place I call home now,' he said.
Yahoo
27-02-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Waratah's rise from whipping boy to Suaalii replacement
From having Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii routinely trample over him throughout the junior ranks to filling the super-sized boots of the code-crossing star - that's the wild tale of Henry O'Donnell. In a scenario barely imaginable not so long ago, O'Donnell will make his Super Rugby Pacific debut for the NSW Waratahs against the Fijian Drua on Friday night after being parachuted in to replace Suaalii at outside centre. Suaalii has been ruled out with a toe injury, opening the door for O'Donnell, who on Thursday revealed the pair go way back, first clashing in under-11s a decade ago. I'm really excited about what centre Henry O'Donnell can bring to the Tahs this year. According to reports he's put on 6 kilos in the preseason build up & will be a handful for opposition how to hit a hole 💥💨 — OBBY (@OBBY001) February 4, 2025 And it wasn't always pretty when O'Donnell went head to head with the now-Wallabies pin-up and former Sydney Roosters NRL and NSW State of Origin ace. "Obviously Joey's a freak talent," O'Donnell said ahead after the Waratahs' captain's run at Allianz Stadium. "I've played Joey since we were growing up. He was at King's, I was at Riverview, so he was always that size and he was always running over the top of a few of us from that young age. "It was actually me and (fellow Waratah) Jack Bowen, we were always playing 10 and 12, and Joey was playing 10 for the other team and, yeah, he'd get the ball from 10 metres out and run over and score a try. "We were about four-foot-five (inches) and he was six ???" With no plans to try to emulate Suaalii, the 22-year-old former junior Wallabies midfielder has full belief he can give the Waratahs something different against the Drua. "Joey can play in probably all positions, and I'm also again confident that I'm a slightly different skill set and maybe the coaches might want to use that," O'Donnell said. "So I'm just going to go about my game like I usually go and that's just hard physical and upfront. "That's what the coaches have chosen and I'm pretty keen to rip into 13 or in any position with that sort of game style." After growing up in Sydney and developing through the NSW system, O'Donnell felt compelled to leave the Waratahs at the end of 2023 to pursue an opportunity with the Western Force. "Two years ago when I was here, I was stuck behind Joey Walton and Harry Wilson so it seemed a bit stupid to stick around," he said. "I went to seek some game time, which I got, but I'm really glad to be back." Team list locked in 💥🆚 Fiji Drua🏟️ Allianz Stadium📆 Fri 28 Feb, 7:30pm AEDT📺 Live and Exclusive on Stan Sport🎟️ Ticket link in bio and Story*denotes uncapped players#wearetahs — NSW Waratahs (@NSWWaratahs) February 26, 2025 O'Donnell has been quick to make an impression on Waratahs coach Dan McKellar, with new teammate and Wallabies winger Max Jorgensen hailing the recruit as a standout in the side's trials. "Henry is a born-and-bred New South Welshman, loves the Waratahs," McKellar said. "This is his home state, so he's excited. It'll be a great day for him and his family."
