By Liam Cook

Brothers’ prop Harry Hoopert is thriving amidst his side’s run through September as they prepare for a preliminary final against UQ on Sunday.

“Overall, it’s been a pretty good season so far and we’ve just got to keep chipping away and hopefully we can get that premiership,” Hoopert told Rugby News.

The Queensland Red has re-joined his Brothers’ teammates since round fourteen, the last time the Brethren clashed with the Students.

Alongside the likes of James O’Connor and Harry Wilson, Hoopert’s late season addition has helped Brothers reach the penultimate week of the season.

The No.1 has a long history with the Brethren and has embraced his stint back at clubland. 

“I started off in colts, progressed my way up into premier grade a couple years after that.”

“It’s always good coming back to club footy and sharing a bit of knowledge with the other blokes there and trying to put in good performances for a club that’s helped me out since I’ve moved to Brisbane.”

Hoopert hails from Dalby, and since joining Toowoomba Grammar school his career has rapidly developed.

“Played TGS (Toowoomba Grammar School) 2013, 2014, 2015 and then got a contract with the Reds Academy and did that for three years with back-to-back premierships in the under twenties comp.”

“I then got a contract with the Reds after that and have been there ever since.”

The Dalby Wheatmen product says Brothers has helped him in all aspects of his life.

The prop is grateful for the opportunity to give his services to a club that has meant so much to him.

“Brothers contacted me when I was in grade twelve and pretty much gave me a job with Rohrig and also billeted me out to the Moloney family and I’m still playing with T-Bone at the moment who’s our captain at Brothers.”

“They did a fantastic job of getting me to Brisbane and getting me settled into club footy which was really good.”

A late season odyssey with Brothers has presented Hoopert with an opportunity to educate and develop the next wave of the Brethren’s forward talent.

“It’s always good coming back to club footy and sharing a bit of knowledge with the other blokes there and trying to put in good performances for a club that’s helped me out since I’ve moved to Brisbane.”

“Jonte Connolly… he’s putting in good performances and scoring plenty of tries which is good to see from a flanker… he always turns up in defence, making those try-saving tackles.

“He’s an absolute workhorse and I think he’s got a big future ahead of him.”

After an impressive semi-final victory over GPS, Brothers are carrying strong momentum into this week’s clash with UQ.

“That was probably one of our best performances in defence (GPS), we just kept turning up for each other.”

“There was a couple of times in the last ten or fifteen minutes where GPS could’ve easily gone over for a couple of tries but off the back of our defence we’ve held them out.”

Defence will once again be at the forefront of Brothers’ mindset against reigning premiers this Sunday.

“UQ’s going to be a very tough game, they’re always a tough opponent,” Hoopert said.

“Earlier on in the year we versed them and they got up on us.

“They’ve got a pretty dominant forward pack and really good backline so we’ll definitely have to be on our A-game this week to get a dub.”

One of the most enjoyable aspects of club rugby for returning representatives like Hoopert is the opportunity to play in front of passionate fans and family.

With this week’s preliminary final scheduled at Bond University, Hoopert is hoping the faithful Brethren supporters will still show up in big numbers.

“It’s always pretty tough playing away from home, especially for both teams at a neutral ground.”

“When the crowd does turn up it’s really good and hopefully we can get a lot of supporters to Bond University this week to get us through to the Grand Final.”

While the next two weeks of do-or-die rugby is Hooperts’ immediate focus, he still has great aspirations moving forward.

“Just building off the last couple of years, I’m in a pretty good spot at the moment.”

“Injury wise, this is the first year I haven’t had any major injuries so it’s been a pretty successful year.

“Rolling into next year, I just want to put my performances together and hopefully get to some higher representative sides.”