By Michael Atkinson. Photo: QRU Media

In 2013, GPS stalwart, Daniel Gorman lay on the Ballymore turf, exhausted after a heart-wrenching Grand Final loss to Easts.

The Gallopers had finished the season as Minor Premiers and the club could see the light at the end of what was then a 17-year premiership drought tunnel.

“That was tough to swallow, that loss,” Gorman revealed.

“We had had such a good season and were coming off a big win over Uni in the Preliminary Final the week before.”

“Easts were very good that day but we also let in some pretty soft tries. But that’s footy.”

In 2014, Jeeps fell one game short of back-to-back grand finals, giving up a big half time lead to be run down by a rampant Sunnybank side and bowing out in the Preliminary Final.

“To be honest, that was probably worse, that year,” said Gorman.

“We just felt like a better team and that we were in a better place than the previous season.”

Fast forward three years and the GPS junior is now captain of a revamped Gallopers side, aiming to end what is now a 21-year Hospital Cup hiatus with victory over University of Queensland on Sunday.

The man they call ‘Gormo’ wasn’t at the club when the likes of Ben Tune, Mark Murray, Matt Cockbain and Christian Knapp brought that trophy back to Yoku Road. But that doesn’t mean he’s not aware of how special it would be to be the man to return it.

“For any player in this competition, that’s what you want. That’s the ultimate goal,” said Gorman.

And claiming the ultimate prize in Queensland Premier Rugby could be the perfect sign off for the 202-game veteran.

“If we win, I will think pretty hard about it (hanging up the boots), or having a year off at least,” Gorman says with a wry smile.

“The NRC will start a couple of weeks after this season finished and I’ve known for a little while that I was going to be selected, but I haven’t really thought about it,” he said.

“Even now that the squads have been announced, it’s still not in my thinking. I’m just so focused on what this (GPS) team is aiming to achieve.”

Gorman is one of a six surviving players from that 2013 Grand Final loss. Chris Kuridrani, Nick Frisby, Ryan Freney, Todd Winkley and Mitch King were all members of the side that went down 27-22 to the Tigers four years ago.

With the exception of King who is battling a hamstring injury, they will all take the field looking for redemption this Sunday.

If No.8 King, is ruled out it could open the door for another survivor from 2013 to feature. Jono Ellis was the skipper four years ago and has been in fine form for GPS Reserve Grade in their own charge to their respective Grand Final, and he wouldn’t look out of place running out Ballymore at 3:15pm on Sunday.