James O’Connor has enjoyed wins over the All Blacks, the British and Irish Lions and the great teams of Europe yet never has he won a club grand final.
It is a missing link in one of Australian rugby’s storied careers and a big reason why Sunday’s StoreLocal Hospital Cup decider against Wests has such meaning for him at Ballymore Stadium.
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“It’s pretty much 20 years since I played Colts for Brothers in my final two years at Nudgee College and I’ve never won a club premiership in rugby,” O’Connor said.
With the reins at flyhalf, the Queensland Reds ace will have a major say in Sunday’s season climax which is tipped to attract an excitable crowd of more than 6000.
“A grand final is the best of the best in the competition and the stakes go up,” O’Connor said.
“Finals rugby is very different with the mindset and the pressure cooker of one chance to perform on the day.
“There’s been a lot of energy around Brothers this week. You can feel the great vibes in the club with the different teams buzzing off each other.”
While some clubs have packed away the tackle bags and footballs for the off-season, the Brethren are in full swing as they target six grand finals from first to fifth grade and Colts 3 on Saturday and Sunday.
O’Connor was called up for the Australia A program before last year’s World Cup so he missed out on any role in Brothers’ 2023 premiership.
“I know what it’s like to miss out in the preliminary final (2022),” O’Connor said.
“This is my team and Sunday means everything.”
O’Connor may have played only two games for Brothers this season but he has been the leading hand in both, including the major semi-final victory over Wests.
He has been embedded at the club for the past two months while recovering from a head knock sustained in Tonga with the Reds.
Working on team plays, chewing over ideas with the team's young backs on training nights…he’s enjoyed it all.
He likes the balance of the Brothers backline. He’s already kicked off a little combination with classy Reds inside centre Dre Pakeho.
He likes the size and moves of outside centre Grason Makara as well as the smart head at halfback and the experience of a two-time premiership-winner as well.
“Isaac Tarabay moves the ball efficiently at halfback but he also spots opportunities really well,” O’Connor said.
“And then you’ve got ‘Sticksy’ (Paddy James). He’s your true clubman. He can play just about any position in the backs, he gives us another ball-payer and he’s got a left boot.”
James was part of the 2016 and 2023 premierships with Brothers. That experience will be invaluable on the biggest day of the club season.
The Bulldogs backline will test them all the way with Fijian mover Mosese Dawai already with 16 tries to his name this season.
Mason Gordon’s two excellent showings in the finals at flyhalf have shown he is up for everything a grand final can throw at him.
Fullback Fletcher Spicer has been one of the Bulldogs’ best all season while centre Lebron Naea had an eye-catching game in the preliminary final win over University of Queensland.
Reds winger Suliasi Vunivalu has produced some big plays in the finals and his skill to regain ball from kick-offs is one area that the Brethren have to combat.
