A Shute Shield grand final for Eastwood on Saturday was nowhere on Chris Bell’s radar when he left Leeds in 2018 to see the sights in Australia as an English tourist.
He quickly learnt to point out the Sydney Harbour Bridge, where to get some outstanding fish and chips at Doyles at Watsons Bay, the beach at Noosa and the best brews at the Lady Hampshire pub at Camperdown.
Leichhardt Oval. No idea. Eastwood Rugby Club. Where? Playing Gordon. Who? At fullback. Never done it.
That was the 2018 Bell, whose initial five-month travel plan changed into something longer term.
Every grand final has an unlikely factor who might never have been running on but for a fateful swirl of perfect timing.
Bell, 24, is a hunch or at least he was when coach Ben Batger first got tipped off that there was a handy No.10 running around for Petersham in subbies last year.
Batger hooked up with Bell for a coffee at Balmoral Beach, liked the chat and worked out he wasn't just plucking the classic Pommie backpacker from the film set of Love Actually.
So began a long-term plan to add a Barmy Army accent to Eastwood’s 2020 backline.
Batger stoked the idea of having two playmakers with good boots, which proved a masterstroke when field position was so important in two tight, wet, windy finals wins.
“I’d never played fullback in my life until this year so it’s been invaluable to learn off a coach like Ben who obviously played there a lot,” Bell said.
“I’m sure I was headache for him asking positional questions all the time but I’ve got the hang of it more and more.
“The general idea is being able to take some of the pressure of Tane (Edmed) so he can just play his game.
“He’s definitely a very good No.10 with a lot of weapons and someone able to dictate the game or pick good times to run.”
Last Sunday, Bell took on the conditions as if he was back home playing again for Hull Ionians in English rugby’s third-tier National League One.
He kicked shrewdly, expertly caught a high kick early and took some of the load off the 20-year-old Edmed in the 100-minute semi-final nailbiter against Norths.
“That cold, wet weather last weekend is the exact reason why I’m now living in Australia because I was too accustomed to it in the north of England,” Bell said with a laugh.
“The best thing out of it was how hard everyone worked for that semi-final win because it took players from one-to-23.
“Right from the start at Eastwood, it’s felt like a club where there’s a bond between all grades and everyone puts in.”
There’ll be 10 or more players in Saturday’s grand final with Super Rugby history, Australian Sevens form or the Wallabies pedigree of Gordon No.8 Jack Dempsey.
Bell is not cowed by reputations, in part because he doesn’t know their biographies.
“I do know a few of the names who’ve come back from Super Rugby but I’m pretty unaware of the blokes playing to be honest and that’s probably helped me,” Bell said.
“I just go out and get on with it.
“I absolutely can’t wait because playing in the grand final is not something I really imagined when I came out from England.
“We didn’t fire many shots in the semi-final and that’s the big thing we want to change for the grand final.”
Wing flyer Mark Nawaqanitawase had few chances against Norths after his five-star showing in the upset of Easts. Likewise, smooth-moving outside centre Lachie Anderson.
Bell won’t know this history. In the late 1970s, Geoff Richards, another English fullback, turned up in Sydney and helped drive Easts all the way to the 1978 grand final.
Bell’s ride hasn’t been without hiccups. He was on his road bike for a fitness ride in Sydney’s Centennial Park in June when he was bowled over by a woman on a vespa. He missed two trials with a damaged wrist.
Batger is delighted with his English surprise packet.
“Belly has fitted in really well and having dual playmakers is working for us,” Batger said.
Former NSW Waratah Batger played in six grand finals for Eastwood, including the club’s last victory in 2015.
He has tried to impart some wisdom to players who haven’t tasted club rugby’s pinnacle game before.
“A big thing is not getting clammed up and just enjoying the whole week’s experience more,” Batger said.
“Look, the pressure is all on Gordon. They’re talking themselves up on social media and they’ve got the stars.”
Leichhardt Oval will be a noisy theatre on Saturday but Bell is also responsible for some new fans for The Woods.
“A few of the lads at Ionians are watching games now but they are telling me off because it’s costing them money for a VPN to watch me play on livestream,” Bell said with a laugh.
He’d better make it worth their while on Saturday.
