By Liz Moore

Sunnybank captain Tom Lucas is tipping his “young and exciting” team to play positive rugby when the season finally kicks off next month.

Whilst he recognises the challenges for a youthful side, Lucas has his heart set on the ultimate prize, and overcoming the obstacles in between.

“I think every season, if you don’t go into it wanting to win it, then you’re not going in with the right frame of mind.

“But we’re not hiding from the fact that it’s going to be a serious challenge,” said the former Australian Rugby Sevens player.

“It’s a season where we’re going to need to be hitting our straps right from the get-go. 

“There won’t be that month to warm into things.

“Moving forward, I’m pretty happy with how we’re building, but only time will tell, and games are coming up so that’ll be good.

“It’s exciting, everyone just wants to play rugby.”

In his second year as captain after returning to the club in late 2018 from five years in Sydney with the Australian Sevens team, Lucas said it is Sunnybank’s exciting attack that is so enjoyable.

“I think we’ll be exciting. We’ll look to attack, and play positive rugby and enjoy it.

“I certainly think we’ll be going out there to win games and be the best we can be.”

The 25-year-old engineering student said that many in his team have been with Sunnybank for a long time and are spurred on by their loyalty to the club.

“Sunnybank means a lot to them. It’s a common theme that we want to give back to the club and get some good results.

“A lot of the lads playing there at the moment have had a similar path to me in that they played as a junior and then coming through as a senior and then Premier player.”

Lucas said that whilst he has played for Sunnybank alongside all three of his well-known rugby-playing brothers, Isaac, Matt and Ben, the four of them are yet to grace the Sunnybank field at the same time.

“We’d love to all play for Sunnybank altogether. I played with Isaac at the club last year. 

“We could definitely do it one day, but it won’t be this year,” said Lucas.

Lucas has welcomed the addition of new coach, Sione Fukofuka, saying the former Sunnybank player has upped the team’s efforts.

“Sione’s inclusion has been good. He’s brought a lot of energy.

“He’s worked real hard on building those relationships that you need to get everyone in the right frame of mind, to get everyone to put in effort. 

“He’s done really well.”

As for Lucas’s position in the team? It shows his versatility. This year he’s focussed on number 10, but inside centre and fullback remain options.