By Adam Sheldon

Brothers’ 2025 Hospital Cup campaign was close to perfect, yet for a club chasing a third straight premiership, the nature of the season’s end meant it finished with a lingering sense of opportunity lost.

Minor premiers for a second straight year and winners of their major semi-final, the Brethren were one victory away from their aforementioned goal, before being stopped in the grand final by a fourth-placed Bond side widely considered rank outsiders.

Speaking to Rugby News, head coach Ben McCormack said the manner of the defeat prompted significant reflection, particularly after Brothers led late in a match where Bond had three players temporarily sidelined by yellow cards.

“I think we all reflected on our own performances and what we could have done to close that out and finish it,” McCormack said.

“There were definitely aspects of how we went about the back end of that game that people were critical of. Our own performances and our own contributions.

“We felt like it was an opportunity lost and one that was within our grasp. We’ve traditionally closed those games out, so we were devastated by that.”

Despite the disappointment, McCormack said the loss would not be used as a motivation heading into 2026.

With Brothers beginning preseason this week – a mid-January return later than most rival clubs – Brothers head coach said the focus was firmly on a fresh start.

“Every year is a new year,” he said.

“You can’t dwell on what happened. We’ve got a new opportunity to create an impression on each other and on the competition.”

Brothers will be without Ollie Harvey and Will Cartwright this season – both have signed contracts with the Australian Sevens. Theo Fourie and Liam Fletcher will also spend time in Major League Rugby, with both expected to return following their overseas stints.

One notable inclusion is the return of talented playmaker Finn Prass, 20, who is back at Brothers after a stint with the Western Force.

“He played fullback for us as an 18-year-old and was outstanding,” McCormack said.

“He’s got a really high skill level, and plenty of rugby in front of him.”

While several Premier Rugby clubs have undergone significant coaching and administrative change, Brothers have again opted for stability.

“It’s one of the best attributes of our club,” McCormack said.

“I’ve got a coaching team that’s exactly the same as it was last year, and we’ll be better for it.”