By Beale Stainton

This Saturday’s derby between Waringah and Manly could well be the final battle of the beaches for Luke Holmes as he considers devoting more of his life to family and further challenges ahead, but wearing the green and white of his club and community is what he prizes more than anything else in his illustrious career as a player, and the passionate rivalry with the men from the Marlins is a contest that retreats to his days as a Rats ball boy back in the under nines and has continued ever since.

“I learned really early, that if you played for Warringah Rugby Club, and you really loved being a Rat, you didn’t like Manly,” said Holmes.

“My dad coached Colts when I was fifteen. It was 1999 and we made the Grand Final. Manly had George Smith, James Lukepa, John Payne in their side. We had Michael Lipman, Justin Purll, Sam Harris just to name a few. I remember that game, we lost. I remember just sitting around with my dad, he was pretty gutted.

“First they were devastated they had lost the Grand Final, but then they were even more devastated they had lost to Manly, their local rivals. Those childhood memories triggered something for me about what it means playing Club Rugby on the Northern Beaches and how special that rivalry is.”

But the rivalry is not only about winning and losing or the tough physical battles on the field. According to Holmes, respect and friendship for the other team is a unique factor that bonds the relationship between the two clubs.

Even though his memories of his first ever grade derby involve an unfriendly incident between one of his team mates and two Manly players that festered a hate toward the Marlins. But fast forward ten years and the players involved in that forgettable moment, from both sides, are now close friends who speak to each other nearly every second day.

“It’s just what that battle created, it’s special. It created that hardness and toughness on the field. I guess those hard physical battles are what you’ll always remember, but what it also does is it creates friendships and a respect for people of the other club,” Holmes said.

“That’s probably the biggest thing I’ve learned is just the respect I have for all the Manly guys, especially players like Ed Gower and Harry Bergelin. Bergelin to give an example, I’ve played so many derbies against. As a player I’ve got so much respect for guys like him, as footy players and people who support and love their club.”

Holmes speaks philosophically about the passion behind the derby. There is the lifetime bond to one or other of the sides. If you live on the beaches you’re either a Rats supporter or a Marlins supporter, but beyond the divided loyalty the support for both clubs runs deep into the community. The strength of support begins at the junior level and works its way up through the subbies, lower grades, colts and into firsts. The overall picture is one of a supported system from bottom to top.

“Every one of our players is connected back to a junior club and he’s also connected back to a junior representative team. Through the visits and the continuous activities, that they’re doing within those clubs and with local kids, they’ve built very strong relationships within the community.

“I don’t have to ask Seb Wileman to go to Collaroy Rugby Club, because he’s already there coaching. I don’t have to ask Josh Holmes to go down to Newport Rugby Club, because he’s already there. The way we’ve worked and the willingness of the players, that’s from all grades and the women’s teams too, has created such a strong connection in the community.

“That’s why we get crowds running onto the field after games. That’s why there’s such great passion behind the rivalry. I suppose that’s the reward those players get for the hard work they do and the giving back to rugby on the Northern Beaches.”

With the Warringah and Manly rivalry living up to its label as the greatest Rugby Derby in Australia, Holmes wears a badge of gratitude for the occasion, one which he passes down through his club.

“We truly have something quite unique. Something I’ve always said to the players at Warringah is that we’re actually really, really lucky. It’s quite a blessing to be apart of the Warringah Rugby Club or the Manly Rugby Club and to be able to have this game.

“Other clubs will never have this game or this experience outside of a Grand Final, but we get to have it twice a year. It’s a pretty cool thing. It’s like the Anzac Day Roosters versus St George clash, or like Collingwood versus Essendon. Everyone gets behind it and really supports it, so as a club we’re very lucky that we have the opportunity to partake in something like this.”

There is a lot on the line this Saturday, for both clubs, but for Holmes it would mean a lot to see Warringah push through at all levels, and on a personal note it could be the final time he plays in the derby he has a lot to thank for.

“I’ve got my kids now and I think I’ve pretty much had my chance, so it could be time to call it a day, but you know, never say never. I won’t say its over until the day I don’t go out there, but I think it’s very close to that time when I want to be waking up the next day with a sore head instead of sore bones.

“I think I’m getting really close to that, but I’ll enjoy Saturday. It’ll be a very special day for me. It’s one of my favourite days for my two oldest boys, they’re good supporters. So I’m just cherishing these last few games, probably more than anything. Plus I get to do it with my brother.”