Former Wallabies James Hanson and Stephen Moore will throw a collective 30-years of top-tier experience at hooker into Saturday’s Brisbane club semi-final.
It’s a tag-team of hardened scrum wisdom that will be hard to top when the University of Queensland face old foes Brothers at Ashgrove from 3pm.
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The cynical will wryly smile that it’s a smart over-reaction to being pumped at scrum-time in last year’s grand final when Easts prop Rhys van Nek won his side a premiership.
For Hanson, 32, it’s an enjoyable return to where it all began as the energetic hooker who won club titles with UQ in 2010 and 2012.
He might not have ended up back at UQ at all but for the COVID curveball of last year.
The 12-Test Wallaby’s seasons with English club Gloucester were hugely rewarding but the birth of first daughter Penelope in January last year changed things.
“Her first year of life was almost all in lockdown in England. It was one of the reasons we came back and it’s a blessing we were able to get back into Queensland,” Hanson, 32, said.
He was released from Gloucester on compassionate grounds but there was still the extended struggle to get on a flight back to Australia.
“We did our quarantine in Perth which was somewhat eventful because we had a baby deciding that a small hotel room was where she wanted to learn to walk,” Hanson said with a smile.
The end result was a link with the Melbourne Rebels, a Super Rugby season and now this grassroots end to 2021.
“Even in England, I’d find a way to watch UQ’s finals on TV. It’s where I grew up, where I used to be a ball boy, and a special place for me,” Hanson said.
“It’s great to come back to where it all started and see the enjoyment in the young players. It gives you energy as you try to keep up.
“(Coach) Mick Heenan has been around forever. He’s got a clear strategy and I’ve just got to focus on my core jobs and do what I can to help get some silverware.”
Old hookers never retire, it seems. They just play on for Uni.
For Moore, his cameos off the bench have shown again and again just how influential he can be even at 38. You don’t lose the smarts acquired over 129 Tests.
He's also scored a try so he's immune from any nude run if post-season hijinks demand the traditional sprint by non-scorers.
Conversations between the fatherly hookers don’t branch off into plans for a raucous night at the pub.
“We talk a bit of footy but it’s more about family, past experiences and the dynamics of the Uni group we’re in,” Hanson said.
“It’s certainly not about the Miley Cyrus music choices that (forward) Connor Vest chooses. He really backs himself as a DJ for some unknown reason.
“It’s good to see one thing that hasn’t changed is playing against Brothers. The special rivalry still exists and the seconds get that match-up as well this weekend.”
The two old dogs at hooker will take on a Brothers’ pack bolstered by the return of Reds prop Harry Hoopert and lock Ryan Smith.
The clash at halfback will be a beauty with young Reds dynamo Kalani Thomas (Uni) up against Melbourne Rebels schemer Joe Powell (Brothers), who is living short-term in Brisbane.
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Wests can enter their first grand final since 2006 if they knock off GPS at Ashgrove in Sunday’s second sudden-death semi-final (3pm).
“All four clubs are coming into this weekend without a game for a month so four different teams will back their prep with four different approaches,” Brothers coach Brendan Gabbett said.
“Uni have been the clear frontrunners all season and they deserved the double-chance in the semis.
“That’s gone and we are all in the same boat with a sudden-death game. They are still favourites but we’ve had that background of playing games where we needed to pull something out to stay in the race. That’ll count for something.”
Young Brothers flanker Jonte Connolly is an eye-catching performer with the mark of a player who can go further in the game.
Wests will have clear direction in the backs from Rebels flyhalf Carter Gordon and Reds inside centre Isaac Henry when they take on The Gallopers from GPS on Sunday.
“It’s always a good battle against GPS at Ashgrove. We want a strong start in front of the ‘Glue Factory’,” Wests lock Rob Puliuvea said.
“We’ve played our way out of some sticky situations this seasons and that confidence will count in a semi-final.
“Having Carter at No.10 brings a real calm element.”
GPS have lost halfback James Tuttle (knee) and lock TuainaTaiiTualima (stress fracture) but will be enlivened by playing a rare semi-final at home.
“It’s a funny one coming off a long break. In some ways, all the clubs are starting again so getting the basics rights is really important for us so everything can flow from that,” GPS coach Shane Arnold said.
Queensland Premier Rugby 2021 Finals Series
Semi-Finals
Saturday at Norths Rugby Club (1 v 4)
Fifth Grade | 8:30am – Field 1 – Wests v Brothers
Colts 3 | 8:30am – Field 2 – Brother v Wests
Fourth Grade | 10:00am – Field 1 – UQ v GPS
Colts 2 | 10:00am – Field 2 – Brothers v Bond
Third Grade | 11:30am – Field 1 – Souths v GPS
Saturday at GPS Rugby Club (1 v 4)
Colts 1 | 12:00pm – Field 1 – Easts v Bond
Second Grade | 1:30pm – Field 1 – UQ v Brothers
Premier Grade | 3:00pm – Field 1 – UQ v Brothers
Women’s | 5:00pm – Field 1 – GPS v Bond
Sunday at Norths Rugby Club (2 v 3)
Fifth Grade | 8:30am – Field 1 – Souths v Easts
Colts 3 | 8:30am – Field 2 – Easts v UQ
Fourth Grade | 10:00am – Field 1 – Wests v Souths
Colts 2 | 10:00am – Field 2 – UQ v Easts
Third Grade | 11:30am – Field 1 – Brothers v Wests
Sunday at GPS Rugby Club (2 v 3)
Colts 1 | 12:00pm – Field 1 – GPS v Brothers
Second Grade | 1:30pm – Field 1 – Bond v Souths
Premier Grade | 3:00pm – Field 1 – GPS v Wests
Women’s | 5:00pm – Field 1 – Sunnybank v Easts
GRAND FINALS
Saturday, September 4 at Sunnybank Rugby Club
Fifth Grade | 10:00am - Field 1
Colts 3 | 10:00am - Field 2
Fourth Grade | 11:40am - Field 1
Colts 2 | 11:40am - Field 2
Third Grade | 1:20pm - Field 1
Second Grade | 3:00pm - Field 1
Sunday, September 5 at Suncorp Stadium
Women’s | 11:30am
Colts 1 | 1:15pm
Premier Grade | 3:00pm
