By LIZ MOORE

At 27, Nick Turner is the second oldest in the Bond Uni squad but the Gold Coast hooker believes the Bullshark boys have plenty of muscle to match a strong Easts side in this weekend’s knockout semi-final at Ballymore.

The former Australian schoolboy who has played with the club for 11 years starting in its first incarnation as the Gold Coast Breakers, Turner said their 32-27 win against GPS was largely thanks to their forwards. 

“Our lineout worked really well,” he said. “Our scrum worked really well. Our forward pack aimed up against the big, pretty dominant pack (of GPS). They really stood up and I think that’s what got us the win.” 

Despite having no feeling in his left arm for a time after a stinger at the start of the match, Turner went on to score twice, making the landscaper the highest try scorer for Bond this season. 

Also adding to the high-scoring game in which Bond trailed for most of it was their goal-kicker Mitch Third, on song with three conversions and two penalty goals.

“Thirdy’s an unreal goal kicker. He can kick them from all over the place. Three times this year he’s kicked them after the full-time siren to give us the win,” Turner said. 

He dubbed flyhalf Third the ‘Ice Man’ for his ability to perform under pressure. “He’d like that,” Turner said.

As for this weekend, Turner is confident his young side can keep their first finals series alive and get another chance at beating UQ, this time in the grand final. But his focus is firmly on “taking it to” the might of a strong Easts side.

“It’s gonna be another big game, especially through our forwards. They’re another big forward pack and they’ve got guys like Ben Mowen, ex-Wallaby, he knows what he’s doing. 

“It’s pretty much the same sort of game we played (on the weekend),” Turner said. 

“If our forwards step up and aim up, we’re gonna take them on. We’ve got a really fast, skilful backline so I feel like the game will be won in the forward pack.

“We’ll just really take it to them physicality-wise. Because they are a big, experienced team, if they get a roll-on, they’re pretty hard to stop. 

“So the plan is to really aim up in defence and attack and just be as physical as we possibly can just to nullify them.”

Turner said his team and its expansive style of play is more than capable of the task ahead of them, naming prop Zane Nonngorr, winger Rhian Stowers and backrower Conner Pritchard as in-form players to watch.

“We’re a really good young team. Good bunch of guys. It’s really exciting to have the opportunity. We’ve just got to quickly recover from (the match against Easts) and get the job done in training and on Sunday.”

IMAGE: BRENDAN HERTEL / QRU