By Jon Geddes

WHEN a teenager in his first year out of school rocked up to play Colts for Northern Suburbs 13 years ago, little did he realise what a life-changing moment that would be.

On Saturday that same footballer will take the field for Norths in the Shute Shield grand final against Randwick at Leichhardt Oval.

Hugh Sinclair’s impressive career is a blueprint as to how the club and elite levels of the game can enjoy a happy and long-lasting marriage.

While he is now an established NSW Waratahs forward, the Norths secondrower still proudly pulls on his red and black jumper whenever he gets the chance.

Sinclair’s passion for his club cannot be manufactured, it must come from the heart.     

“I’m 30 and I’ve been here more than a third of my life,” he told Rugby News.

“It’s massive, there are so many people, so many connections, so many coaches, players, staff.          

“It has changed my life and I just love the club so much.”      

In the race to the finals, Norths also love Sinclair, who has been a real warrior in the forwards’ trench warfare.

“I’m getting older, I won’t be here for too much longer and I’m just enjoying every moment while I can,” he said.

AN AMAZING JOURNEY               

SINCLAIR went to school at Shore before he walked up Miller St to North Sydney Oval and started playing Colts for Norths Colts in 2011.

That was the same rugby path travelled by the great former Wallaby prop Al Baxter.

Sinclair also followed in Baxter’s footsteps when signed by the Waratahs in 2019.      

“I just really enjoy coming back to club footy,” Sinclair said. “Norths gave me my opportunity and I wanted to come back.

“A couple of weeks ago I managed to get my 100^th first grade game.

“That’s what it is all about- and the team’s going well so I can’t complain.”

Norths coach Zak Beer said Sinclair’s presence was invaluable to the club.

“There is the tactical experience he has on the field, and then there is the experience around the place that naturally rubs off on all the other players – particularly some of the young forwards coming through,” Beer said.

“He understands what makes Norths a successful club and he embodies every part of that in every way he goes about his work.”     

A GRAND CHANCE   

EXPERIENCE has taught Sinclair the opportunity to play in a grand final is not easy to achieve and walking off a winner is even tougher.

“We won it in ‘16 and lost it in ’17,” he said. “It’s cool to play grand finals, we’ve lost the last three or four prelims in a row.

“We know how hard it is to get into one, let alone win one.”

THE BIG D

NORTHS successes at the business end of the season have been built around the platform of strong defence, especially in their red zone.

That was a key factor in last Saturday’s 23-5 final win over Manly, where Sinclair was again prominent.

“In a final to leak five points is a massive effort against a top four team,” he said.

 “It’s something we pride ourselves on. Everyone works hard and gets off the deck and goes again.

“And it’s something we base the group around … defence gets you to the big games so hopefully we can go again this week.”

PREPARING FOR BATTLE

It has been business as usual for Norths this week ahead of Saturday’s showdown with the Galloping Greens.

“It is really important that we stick to our routine,” Beer said. “I think naturally the focus will sharpen regardless.

“But we have a recipe, and we have a system of what works, and we just go deeper into that.”

Once the players left the winners’ dressing room at North Sydney Oval after the celebrations last Saturday evening, the focus quickly shifted to the decider.

“This is a special group, but we still have work to do and one more to go,” Beer said.

This grand final is a fitting finale, a showdown between the two best teams throughout the season.

“From a personal perspective and coaching wise I have a lot of respect for what Randwick have done this year,” Beer said.