Starting an academy to groom a production line of future flyhalves may be as simple as paying the Gordon family food bill.
While Wallaby Carter Gordon is preparing to face the French in Paris, younger brother Mason will have the reins for Wests in the climax to Queensland’s club rugby season.
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Mason, 20, is well aware this is his time to shine against Brothers at Ballymore and put everything he’s learnt into action on Sunday.
“The whole family is really proud of Carter,” Mason said.
“One of the biggest things I’ve learnt from Carter is knowing what comes off in a game is something I’ve always seen him practice.
“That’s where he gets his confidence to back his ability.
“It’s also learning big games like this are about doing the simple things right and not overplaying your hand. It’s not about throwing long passes but waiting for the right time to try something.”
Mason earned his taste of Wests’ drought-breaking StoreLocal Hospital Cup premiership last season when he ran on for the final 10 minutes in a baton change with Carter.
That taste of peak club rugby will have its benefits on Sunday against a Brothers side purring behind in-form Queensland Reds flyhalf Lawson Creighton.
“I didn’t have a lot of time in last year’s grand final but enough to know big finals are a different beast. There are no favourites or underdogs just the team that best executes their game plan on the day,” Mason said.
“I have a chance to make my own statement on Sunday.”
Mason is a playmaking fullback in his best position as he showed for the Junior Wallabies this year in South Africa.
His versatility is a plus because it enables strike weapon Glenn Vaihu to play fullback.
The powerful Wests pack bulldozed the University of Queensland in the second half of last year’s grand final and the Bulldogs will back their forwards again. The 2022 Bulldogs steamed home 44-27 after trailing 20-13 just after half-time.
Melbourne Rebels Daniel Maiava and Angelo Smith are quality elements to a strong pack under skipper Connor Anderson, the Queensland Reds squad backrower.
Anderson wants it physical and will be happy that edge showed up at training last Saturday in a game simulation session.
There were a couple of square-offs when things got a little heated, always a good sign that intensity and defence are up.
Creighton has been on a roll for Brothers with excellent showings in the finals series against Easts and Bond University and a five-game winning streak overall.
“He’s been playing great footy week in, week out. At 25, his best six years are in front of him. There’s not a five-eighth in Australia doing what he’s doing right now,” Brothers coach Brendan Gabbett said.
You can be certain Wests keg-like inside centre Vilikesa Raboiliku will be aiming some powerful charges at Creighton’s channel to test his defence.
“Brothers are obviously in good form and have a strikeforce. I don’t want to give away any secrets but we’ve got our set piece plays and I don’t think Lawson will enjoy some of them too much,” Gordon said.
A big plus to the Brothers’ set-up is having Hamish Stewart at inside centre because the calm Western Force figure will be able to take up any responsibilities as a playmaker if Creighton is stifled.
The Bulldogs will be aiming at going back-to-back as premiers for the first time since the Canberra Vikings’ three-peat of 2001-02-03.
For diehard Bulldogs fans, Sunday is a sweet reminder of those heady days in 1977 and 2006 when they won grand finals over Brothers.
The Sunnybank-Bond University women’s grand final on Sunday has been scheduled in the breakfast timeslot of 9am. A later kick-off was deemed unworkable after a lengthy meeting because Brothers would have to cancel a club breakfast organised to usher in their presence in the Colts 1 and Hospital Cup grand finals and broadcasters also needed some pre-telecast space.
It does mean the women get to use the specialist women’s change rooms at Ballymore as one breakfast plus.
Bond University lock Elisha Godsiff said the Bull Sharks had to shrug off the inconvenience.
“We tried our hardest to change the kick-off time. Now, we have to flick the switch for warm-ups when people around Brisbane are just waking up,” Godsiff said.
“We are coming up from the Gold Coast by team bus so that’s a 5.30am meet-up pretty much to get to Ballymore for 7am.
“We are very excited to be using the new change rooms and to be playing at the new Ballymore. It will be the start of a big day of grand finals.”
Bond Uni do have centre trump Mel Wilks back in the groove. Last year’s grand final Player of the Match has had much of her 2023 season ruined by injuries so this stage is well deserved.
Wilks was an influential part of the 22-12 upset of minor premiers Sunnybank in the major semi-final.
“It was our first win over Sunnybank this year and Mel’s comeback game. She’s definitely a physical body and her kicking ability is very valuable as well,” Godsiff said.
