WARRINGAH’S TAG TEAM BARNABAS BROTHERS READY TO CREATE DOUBLE TROUBLE IN GRAND FINAL AGAINST EASTERN SUBURBS

By Jonathan B Geddes

EASTERN Suburbs have the task of nullifying the impact of Warringah’s “Breakdown Brothers” in Saturday’s Shute Shield grand final at Leichhardt Oval.

The unusual tag team combination of Zac Barnabas, 24, and his 22-year-old sibling Jake has become a potent weapon for the Rats in their campaign to win this weekend’s premiership decider.

In what is an extraordinary situation, the brothers are both specialist openside flankers who more often than not have been sharing that No.7 role very effectively.

Playing against one Barnabas brother would be a headache – but facing two could turn into a migraine because the lookalikes are so effective at the breakdown with their similar unrelenting styles.       

In Saturday’s 38-22 win over Norths in the preliminary final at Narrabeen, older brother Zac did his job during the first 60 minutes before he tagged out with Jake who made an impact from the moment he took the field.

A GRAND FAMILY OCCASION 

SATURDAY’S grand final means a lot to the teammate brothers for obvious reasons.

“We’ve trained since October last year and we’ve worked so hard to get here as a team to build from last season,” Zac said.

Adding to the occasion is having Jake in the squad alongside him.

“It’s awesome, it’s a big reason why I came to the club (from Manly) in the first place,” Zac said.

And he doesn’t mind sharing that backrow position with his younger brother.

“We play in the same team together so the tag team is definitely fine,” he said.

Zac was proud of the influence Jake had on proceedings against Norths.

“He was awesome, he’s been killing this year,” he said.

When he takes the field Jake knows he has to jump into the action straight away.  

“I’ve just got to go 100 miles an hour because you don’t have much time and l’ve got to make the most if it,” Jake said. “You need to get involved pretty soon to find your feet.”  

Jake said being in the same team as his brother in a Shute Shield grand final was something very special.

“I wouldn’t have ever expected to play with him in the first place, let alone a grand final, so that adds a bit extra,” Jake said.

The pair do admit to some friendly sibling rivalry to get that starting spot.

“When you are both specialist sevens there is always going to be that bit of healthy competition,” Jake said. “Hopefully they can find a spot for both of us out there.”

Growing up, the Barnabas boys would occasionally be in the same team when Jake moved up a few age groups to fill in if a side was short.

“We probably didn’t really play together properly until the Newport Breakers Under 18s when we won a comp,” Zac said.      

Warringah assistant coach Boyd Killingworth, a champion Rats’ backrower himself and an Australian Sevens star, explained just what the Barnabas’s bring to the team.

“They are amazing, they are awesome tacklers and great over the ball,” Killingworth said. “But people don’t realise how important they are in our attack.

“I think it is awesome we have brothers in first grade together in the same position.

“They obviously have a special bond and work well together.

“They are different players but have so many similarities as well.

“I’m very glad they are in the green and white and not at other clubs.”             

THE A-GAME

ZAC said the Rats need to improve when they face Easts who have been competition frontrunners all season.

“They are a top side and we will definitely have to be on our A game to beat them,” he said.

“We played pretty well (against Norths),” he said.

“I think a few times we are just making errors and letting teams into the game and put ourselves under pressure. If we minimise our errors we are definitely in with a good chance.”