NICK Palmer was a fresh-faced 20-year-old when he helped steer Newcastle to a Caldwell Cup triumph over Illawarra in 2012.
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It was the launching pad for the lock, who has gone on to play for NSW Country, Northern Suburbs in the Sydney Shute Shield, New Zealand provincial side Hawkes Bay and the NSW Waratahs.
"After that Country final was when I thought I should have a look at taking rugby a bit more seriously and eventually moved to Sydney," Palmer said. "This is my seventh season at Norths."
So when Newcastle coach Scott Coleman asked the now 28-year-old if he would captain his home town against the Western Force, he jumped at the chance.
Newcastle take on the Force in a game of Global Rapid Rugby in the culmination of a festival of rugby at No.2 Sportsgound on Saturday.
"Bubba (Coleman) hinted that they could be having a game against the Force and that he wanted to bring some players back from the Sydney competition to play for Newcastle," Palmer said. "He is trying to put a bit of pride back in the Newcastle jersey. He wants to make the rep program really special and really valuable to be a part of. That was a big carrot for me. I was keen to be involved as long as Norths were OK with it and they were."
Coleman said Palmer, who he coached at Hamilton, was the ideal captain.
"He leads by example, and everything he does is done at 100 per cent," Coleman said."He is not the most gifted footballer by any means but he has worked hard with the tools he has got. He is someone who can look back on his career and not have any regrets."
Palmer spent 2018 with the NSW Waratahs, a season cut short by a lisfranc fracture in his foot, and played against the Force in the national rugby championships in the same year. He is under no illusion of the task facing Newcastle, which have been boosted by a number of Sydney players to ensure they are competitive.
"The last time I played NRC for the Sydney Rays in 2018 we got belted by the Force," he said. "They put is under pressure at the set piece, especially the scum. It will be a big test for the piggies."
Newcastle have held talks with Global Rapid Rugby, a competition bankrolled by Perth billionaire Twiggy Forrest, about having a professional franchise based in the region.
"If a team was to start in Newcastle that would be fantastic," Palmer said. "I would definitely look at it then. For now Sydney and Norths is where my rugby is at."
