Jordan Lenac and Tyler Campbell will realise a childhood dream when they run out side by side at Ballymore Stadium for Sunday’s Hospital Cup Grand Final.
It is something they have worked towards for over a decade – but neither imagined it would be quite like this.
The former Southport School teammates have forged impressive rugby careers. Lenac was an Australian schoolboy rep who played professionally in Scotland, while Campbell plied his trade at Waikato in New Zealand’s NPC before the duo found themselves teammates once again at Bond University.
The club they joined had a reputation for attacking flair and the two gifted playmakers fit right in.
But the side they’ll lead into this weekend’s Grand Final are now more like tradies than rockstars.
The ‘scrappers’, as they like to call themselves, reflect the shift in culture for the Bull Shark’s Premier Men's side.
The flashy try-scoring capacity that was a hallmark of previous Bond teams is still there, but is underpinned by a focus on grit, toughness and the determination to simply do what needs to be done to get the win.
The bond between Lenac, the 2024 John Eales Rugby Excellence Scholar, and Campbell goes far beyond rugby.
“I have over a decade's experience playing with Tyler,” Lenac said.
“I’ve learnt what he's trying to do on the field, and when he's doing things, and I try and position myself to be in the best spot for him. He does the same for me.
“Sometimes on the field we bicker like an old married couple.
“It's great that when we’re off the field and we need to have those tough conversations, we can. We both know where we’re coming from.”
That tight-knit friendship came in handy when the Bull Sharks hit round 12 of the season with just three wins to their name.
Something had to change quickly or the season was over.
“We sat down for a mid-season meeting and had a tough chat,” Lenac said.
“I think we had been focusing on the fact that in the past Bond has been quite a flashy team and we relied on some big and special players.
“This season we might not have that stock.
“We have a lot of boys who have come through non-traditional rugby pathways and we just landed on the fact that we’re a team of scrappers.
“We’ve really embraced that ideology, and just do the work that needs to be done.”
Since then, there’s been no looking back.
The Bull Sharks have won eight on the trot, including the upset of the season against Wests – a 34-0 wipeout in the minor semi-final.
“The ‘scrappers’ ideology has really rung through,” Lenac said.
“We have won games which have been really ugly and have just gotten the job done.
“It’s not going to be flashy, but if we just knuckle down and try to be as physical and dominant as we can, that's kind of our identity.”
As to whether Lenac will be hanging up the footy boots anytime soon? Well, that's still up in the air.
“Retirement is a big question. If you asked me that question two months ago, I would've said this season would be my last,” he said.
“But the run that we’ve had the past couple of weeks has made it hard for me to think about stepping away.
“A few of us older heads are all in that similar boat, where life is catching up with us and we are having to think forward.”
But for now, their focus will be solely on what could be a historic weekend at Ballymore Stadium, where they will take on Brothers in the QPR Grand Final – the first time Bond’s Premier Men have made it this far.
“The last two weekends have put a lot of belief in us and the belief that we can win the competition,” Lenac said.
“We’re just worrying about ourselves and focusing on the ideas that we’ve set out as a squad.
“We’ve got pretty big aspirations and we’re confident we can get it done.”