By Steve Jancetic
November 15th 2009 @ 2:35am
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Happy Hindy ready to go
Nathan Hindmarsh’s representative fire has been rekindled by Australia’s Four Nations campaign, but it’s not enough for the Parramatta backrower to change his mind about quitting rep football.
With speculation rife Australia’s Four Nations final against England at Elland Road would signal the end of Darren Lockyer’s representative career, Hindmarsh confirmed it would definitely be his swansong.
The veteran forward wants to put all his energies towards winning an NRL premiership with the Eels.
This tour has been a bonus for Hindmarsh, who thought his days in the green and gold had passed him by when he was ignored by both NSW and Australian selectors the last two years.
But Parramatta’s stunning run to the NRL grand final helped propel him back into the sights of selectors, and the opportunity to go out on his own terms is proving too much to resist.
“I’ve had my go, I’m looking now to win a grand final,” Hindmarsh said on the eve of the clash with England.
“As all the other boys will tell you, Origin takes so much out of you. I don’t know how big Petero (Civoniceva) and Locky do it – it takes a heap out of you.
“I just think I’d be more useful to Parramatta if I missed those games.”
So is he done for good?
“Maybe if I just say I don’t want to play any more and don’t put in the official letter,” he joked.
Hindmarsh admits he was resigned to playing a bit part role during the Four Nations campaign, but after missing the opening draw with New Zealand, he has played every game since.
“It probably has,” Hindmarsh said when asked if the tour had worked out better than expected.
“After the first match against the Kiwis when I was 18th man, I was thinking ‘this could be a long trip.’
“But it’s been good and the last week has been more energetic than previous weeks.”
The trip to England is the third Hindmarsh has made with an Australian side, having previously toured for the 2000 World Cup and 2004 Tri-Nations.
“It’s a lot more professional than what it used to be.
“The training’s a lot harder, it’s more intense, your training more often – it’s not like it used to be because now other countries are playing better footy than they used to.”
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