The Blackheath star has scored 24 tries in just 10 games in 2018 and, ahead of Saturday’s New Era Cup grand final clash with the CSU Mungoes, the 22-year-old try-scoring phenom is letting the students in on how he’s gone from a crafty half to a powerhouse lock.

The Blackcat is out of the bag, so to speak.

“I don’t run at any of the big blokes,” Ranse laughed.

“I pick out the defence and I run at all the small blokes, to be honest with you.

“But it all comes off the back of our set plays. We’ve been going through them all year and they’ve worked really well.”

Ranse spent the 2017 season with Bathurst St Pat’s in the Group 10 competition, and got a taste of rep footy last winter too.

“Playing first grade last year made me a better footy player and a stronger player, I think anyway,” he added.

The Blackcats host this year’s mid-west decider at Don Bradman Oval after an undefeated season, with a whopping differential of plus-398.

Saturday’s opposition, CSU, ended the year with more losses than wins and a differential of plus-four – minuscule in comparison to the Blackcats’ dominant regular season numbers. 

It’s a David versus Goliath match-up, but one Ranse knows his side can’t afford to slip up in.

The Mungoes have already proven reputations count for little this year, upsetting Orange Barbarians in last week’s preliminary final to score a spot in the big dance.

Ranse knows the students have nothing to lose.

“I thought we’d play Orange, but CSU came out last week and played pretty well,” he said.

“The difference between Orange and CSU is Orange has that size in the middle and CSU is quick around the outside.

“I dare say the game plan will change, we’ll be going up the middle.”

Which no doubt suits Ranse.

In the two games Ranse has played against CSU, he’s gone right up the guts of the Mungoes pack and scored five tries.

The Blackcats have accounted for CSU 58-6 and then, in a much closer affair, 24-14 in the two games they’ve met in 2018.

And there’s a couple of big inclusions set to further boost the minor premiers ahead of the decider.

“Last time we played we didn’t have my dad (Brett Ranse) and we didn’t have Jessie Lualua, up front. I hope Jessie takes it up hard and strong. He’s a really dominant player,” Ranse said.

Matt’s father, Brett, is a veteran in the area and has previously won mid west premierships with the Blackcats as well as Group 10 premier league grand finals with Workies.

Matt said he’s looking forward to lacing up the boots with this old man in the big one, Brett celebrating his 45^th birthday in 2018.

“It’s a bloody honour, to be honest. Everyone dreams of playing with their dad at some stage,” Matt said, Brett to play hooker on Saturday.

“It’d be an honour to win it with him at home.

“It’s been a pretty good year, we’re excited to be there and it’s a great bunch of blokes we’ve got at the club.”

The 2018 New Era Cup grand final day kicks off at 1pm with an all-CSU league tag decider between Yellow and Blue.

The first grade game kicks off at 2.15pm.