By LIZ MOORE

In his first year running on for Wests, former Brothers backrower Jeremy Skelton is enjoying the family and coach bonds at his father Ernest’s former western-suburbs club.

One of five brothers who are all accomplished rugby players, including Australian 7s and Rebels player Jeral, Jeremy Skelton is also familiar with new Wests coach Carl Marshall.

Marshall coached Brothers to win the premiership in 2016 when Skelton moved to the club after playing rugby league in the Brisbane Broncos Under 20s ranks. Marshall also played at Wests with Skelton’s father.

“Dad’s basically the reason we’ve all moved to rugby,” Skelton said of his 42-year-old father, who played for the Queensland Reds.

“He’s definitely been an inspiration for me and my brothers,” added the 24-year-old.

“He’s always been there on the sideline giving us lectures and telling us what we did wrong, just trying to make us better rugby players.

“He just knows everything about the game because he loves the game that much.

“I definitely do owe it to him for always being there, and especially mum as well,” Skelton said of his mother, Anna.

“Since day one, she’s been to every single game. She never misses it.

“I’ve got nothing but love for my parents. They’re our number-one supporters,” said the youth-work student.

As for the move to Wests, it comes after Skelton returned to Brothers last season following a couple of years playing rugby in Japan.

“I wanted a new challenge, a new team,” Skelton said. “Obviously Brothers is a great club and they’ve got a lot of depth. They’ve got a lot of good players so I didn’t feel that if I left they would still have good players to fill the spot.

“I really want to focus on getting as much Premier games as I can,” Skelton said after going “up and down” between Premier and second grade last year for Brothers. “I want to put my dominant foot forward and keep going forward and see where it takes me.”

Skelton has been very happy at his new club this far.

“I’m loving Wests at the moment. The culture’s great. It’s a good bunch of boys. We’ve been training hard and are just itching to get on the field. Way too long just training.”

Skelton said despite missing the on-field play, the extended break had brought its own benefits.

“It was great for me, especially because I only played the one trial game against Norths, and that was my first game back from injury cos I’d recently fractured my arm. It was still weak.

“After that trial game, that’s when Covid happened, and it kind of helped me heal all the injuries that I had.

“I was literally in the gym every day. It helped me get stronger and better during that time. I kind of thank Covid for giving me more time to focus and train harder and get back on the field and be the best I can be.”

As for what fans can expect from Wests this year, Skelton is positive.

“I really do think we’ve got a strong side. We’ve got some strong forwards, and a good backline as well. I’m really confident that we are going to do well.”

Looking to his own future, the Australian of Samoan heritage who was born in New Zealand, is firmly focussed on his two great passions, rugby and music.

“I’m hoping to obviously play professional rugby, play the best rugby I can for the best team I can. I want to get up there internationally.”

In the music realm, singer-songwriter Skelton has just released his first single, a remake of 90s Wanna Be Down, and hopes to release more songs by the end of the year.

As for the close family bonds, the five brothers hope to one day all run on to the same field together. They’ve come close, with Skelton, his brothers Richard and Lorenzo, and their father Ernest, all taking to the same field for Brothers in a game in 2016.

They’re not expecting their father to join them next time, but never say never.

“He doesn’t give up that guy. He always ends up putting his boots back on.”

IMAGE: BRENDAN HERTEL / QUEENSLAND RUGBY MEDIA UNIT