By Jon Geddes & Clay Cross

IT’S no wonder Waratahs’ forward Hugh Sinclair has a smile on his face this week.

His club Northern Suburbs are in the Shute Shield finals and he re-signed with NSW for another season on Friday.

Sinclair is passionate about Norths and pulling on the red and black jumper whenever he has the opportunity.

“I love it, the reason I played Super Rugby was because of my journey through Norths,” Sinclair told Rugby News after doing the hard yakka in Saturday’s 31-10 win over Manly at Manly Oval.

“It’s awesome to see Cadeyrn Neville and Hayden Thompson-Stringer playing for Manly and Lalakai Foketi has been playing for Manly as well.

“I think it’s silly not to – anyone who is not in the Wallabies or what not, and they are fit and ready to go, should be playing club footy.

“It’s (The Shute Shield) is probably one of the best club comps in the world.

“I’ve played over 100 first grade games now, I don’t know how many more I have got, so I may as well make the most of it while I can.”

Sinclair’s refreshing outlook follows calls by legendary rugby caller Gordon Bray last week for representative players to turn out more for their clubs.

That story in Rugby News attracted overwhelming support.

INTO THE RATS’ NEST

SINCLAIR and Norths now move from the Manly win and turn their attention to this Sunday’s finals showdown against Warringah at Rat Park.         

“We’ve got a good group and that gives us a lot of confidence going into next week,” Sinclair said. 

After Saturday’s win the experienced Norths forward delivered a strong message to his teammates as they stood in a huddle on Manly Oval.

“It’s good to win round 18 and we knew we were in the finals – but we want to play three more games and win three more games,” Sinclair told the players.  

 A SUPER CHANGE 

PLAYING for Norths also gives Sinclair the opportunity to move on from the Waratahs’ unhappy Super Rugby campaign.

“She was a tough old season, put it that way,” he said.

“It’s a different environment, different blokes and there is a different vibe to it.

“A lot of these boys work on the tools all day, they come in and footy is their out.

“They do it for the love of it, you are not getting paid much to play club footy.

“And that’s a pretty cool thing to be a part of – and that’s across all the Shute Shield, not just Norths.” 

Sinclair has had a weight lifted off his shoulders after signing his new contract with the Tahs.

“There was a bit of stress involved, it’s good to have it done and locked away,” he admitted.

“I had some good conversations with (incoming coach) Dan McKellar. I think he and the other coaches coming in will add a lot.”

A HUGH BONUS

NORTHS coach Zak Beer said Sinclair brings a lot to the team, on and off the field.

“I don’t need to comment much about on field, I think anyone who has seen Hugh play will know how much he does around the park,” Beer said.

“And particularly those who know rugby, it’s all the little one percenters which as a club we base ourselves on.

“But it’s around the group as well, his leadership, his IP, decision making and when you come into big games it’s really important to have a guy like Hugh on the field.”

BRING IT ON

THE mind games have started ahead of the clash with the Rats.    

“I love the fact that we have nothing to lose going up there,” Beer said.

“Warringah have been on top for most of the season.

“But I noticed a couple of weeks ago they changed their team and dropped a bloke like Conor Hickey back to the bench and made a few other changes.

“So I’m not sure if that was to rest him or wanted to try someone else.”

And Beer identified Hickey as the Rats’ biggest threat.

“I’m not sure whether they are going to drop him back to the bench or start,” Beer said. “But I think anywhere in the starting 15, Conor is really dangerous on his feet and is a guy you need two or three defenders to try and stop.

“But we are really comfortable with the team we have got, there is absolutely no pressure on us.

“We are going up there and want to put on a full Norths’ performance.”