Club finals "mean everything" to Test stars as Brothers, Bond plot title defence

Thu, Aug 29, 2024, 2:30 AM
Lachlan Grey
by Lachlan Grey

While nothing compares to Test rugby, there's always something special about pulling on your club colours.

Just ask 64-cap Wallaby James O'Connor, who is relishing the chance to don the Brothers' strip once more in Sunday's Hospital Cup final.

Watch Sunday's Hospital Cup final live and on-demand via Stan Sport.

Australia A duties denied O'Connor a place in the Brethren's 2023 premiership but the 34-year-old is determined to break a career-long drought by winning his first piece of club silverware this weekend.

“This is my team and Sunday means everything," O'Connor told media.

“Finals rugby is very different with the mindset and the pressure cooker of one chance to perform on the day (but) there’s been a lot of energy around Brothers.

"You can feel the great vibes in the club with the different teams buzzing off each other."

O'Connor was mercurial in Brothers' major semi final win over Wests and will be well supported by a cast of Reds including Ryan Smith, Dre Pakeho and Paddy Ryan.

However, the Brethren should face stiff opposition from a Bulldogs side laden with Test talent and 2022 title winners.

Recent Wallaby debutant Seru Uru remains in the selection frame after a star turn against University of Queensland last week while Henry Speight and Suliasi Vunivalu pose a deadly wing duo.

There's no shortage of internationals in the Queensland Premier Grade Women's decider either with Easts out to spoil Bond University's hat-trick bid.

Wallaroos Carys Dallinger and Tiarna Molloy were key to the Tigers' preliminary final win las week but will meet their match in Eva Karpani and Mel Wilks, who combined for four tries in Bond's 57-19 thrashing of Sunnybank a fortnight earlier.

The Dragons nevertheless had cause to celebrate this week with Samoan international Ana Afuie claiming the Selena Worsley Medal as Queensland's best club player alongside Alec Evans Medal winner Matt Gicquel from GPS.

"We did a lot of good things at Sunnybank this season and I see women's rugby on the way up in many ways since I first played at the club in 2015," Afuie said.

Queensland Premier Grade Grand Final tickets are available for purchase here.

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