By MARK CASHMAN

The Margin family WhatsApp group was strangely quiet this week and little wonder with brothers Jack and Hugh due to lock horns on Saturday when Gordon hosts Warringah at Chatswood in the Shute Shield match of the round it’s no surprise.

“Mum and dad don’t like the brothers disagreeing too much so we’ve just steered clear of all that sort of stuff this week,” Hugh told Rugby News.

“We’ll all have dinner together on Friday night when Mum and Dad are down and then see each other at the game.

“I’m loving being at Warringah and hand on heart I can say now that I am a proud Rats man and will be from here on in.

“We’re building nicely and looking forward to testing ourselves against the reigning premiers.”

Hugh the younger headed to the northern beaches at the start of the season and he’s been regular in coach Mike Ruthven’s Shute Shield side, while for big brother Jack it’s been business as usual as the Highlanders “go to” lock forward.

Jack was at the core of the side that only lost once on the way to the 2020 Shute Shield title and there is a feeling at Chatswood Oval that a few things are starting to fall into place.

“Last year was an incredible year for everyone involved, but we’re not the same team and it’s not the same competition,” Jack said.

“Bar last year the Rats have always been there or there about on the competition table and they are playing some pretty good footy at the moment.

“So little brother aside it’s going to be a very interesting afternoon at Chatswood.

“One of the great things about the past couple of weeks has been that we have seen numerous Gordon juniors make their first grade debuts.”

There have been 15 players make their Shute Shield debuts over the course of the past couple of months and it will set the club up for sustained success over the next couple of seasons.

The Rats were far from happy with their performance against Sydney Uni last weekend, falling 45-12 and being pretty much blown off the park in the first 30 minutes and just after the halftime break.

Like the Crusaders the Students pinned on any loose ball and turned it into points, jumping out to a 19-0 lead before Warringah really knew where they were at.

The corresponding fixture last year at Chatswood Oval signalled two things in my mind with the 52-7 win to then home side— the first that Gordon were the heartiest of favourites for the title and that the Rats were in for a tough season.

That’s pretty much how it panned out.

Last weekend Gordon jumped out well in their game against West Harbour and were up 26-0 before the home side at Drummoyne Oval got any sort of pay on the scoreboard.

They are building well and a few more bricks in the wall are back with Reece MacDonald back at flyhalf after a number of weeks out with a hand injury.

MacDonald will add a lot to the attack for the home side but the Highlanders will need to be wary of the attacking raids and energy of Rats skipper and fullback Ben Marr.

But back to the sibling rivalry of the Margin brothers and what really gets up the nose of older brother Jack.

“He doesn’t like me putting my arm around him and touching his head and stuff,” Hugh offered.

“I might try that in one of the early rucks and see how he reacts. Anyway it’s going to be a great day no matter what the result.”

Rugby News asked Jack, in the interests of balanced reporting, about his pet hate and he fired back without hesitation.

“I know he’s going to do that but all it will do will be to fire me up even more,” Jack said.

“Dad said earlier this week that a draw might be the best result as far as they are concerned but I for one are not going to be happy with that.

“Parents always say that they don’t have favourites in a family but we all know deep down that that is not the case. At the end of the day Mum will support me, and Dad will support Hugh.”

Oh brother what an afternoon at the home of the Highlanders!

IMAGE: ANDREW QUINN / GORDON RUGBY