Club Premiership bid for O’Connor with World Cup remote

James O’Connor will make a bold run at a club title with Brothers now the door to another World Cup campaign is seemingly shut.

The 64-Test Wallaby scored a try and threw the last pass for three more in a sharp hour of power against Easts at Crosby Park last weekend.

His frontline role in the 35-28 win in StoreLocal Queensland Premier Rugby was his first match since copping a concussion for Australia A against Tonga on July 14.

O’Connor’s name was missing from the rehab group tacked on to Eddie Jones’ 34-man squad for the Bledisloe Cup Tests.

He was at long odds anyway but that was probably the final sign that he will fall short of a spot when Jones unveils his 33-man Cup squad for France on Thursday.

There was still a distinct spring in O’Connor’s 33-year-old step last Saturday at flyhalf in his first game for the club this season. His snappy wide balls and pinpoint shorter ones put fullback Lawson Creighton over for three of his four tries.

The potent duo will back up on Sunday in the minor semi-final against the same opponents at Bottomley Park.

Playing the Tigers on their home patch at Bottomley is very different to playing them with the waft of freshly-made steak burgers in the air at Brothers.

“We’re preparing for a completely different Easts’ challenge on Sunday and a very hostile crowd,” Brothers coach Brendan Gabbett said.

“James was very productive coming off a break. He’s a massive voice for us in our previews, reviews and planning.

“We all saw how Lawson is growing. He’s in complete control of his game right now.

“It’s a very open final series…all four clubs can win it.” 

The Brethren will be without centre-winger Josh Flook, who has a concussion.

Easts pack leader Tom Milosevic said both teams will have learnt a lot from last weekend’s clash.

“We got a fair bit from that dress rehearsal as I’m sure Brothers did. We got up early (8-0) but fell out of our shape and allowed Brothers to dictate which you can’t do,” Milosevic said.

“We’ll enjoy playing back at Tigerland. We have five teams through the grades playing the minor semi that day.

“We get a lot of support from the old boys’ corner of the ground and I think the Stan Sport mics have now been moved so they don’t pick up every word they say.”

Minor premiers Bond University meet premiers Wests at Crosby Park in Saturday’s major semi-final.

No club has won back-to-back premierships since the three-peat of the Canberra Vikings (2001-02-03) and no Brisbane club has achieved it since the Souths’ dynasty produced five in a row (1991-95).

“We know how long it has been since any club has gone back-to-back. It’s not our focus. This is a different team to last year and this is very much a separate premiership challenge,” explained Wests leader Connor Anderson.

“Bond are a really good all-round team as they have shown consistently throughout this season.”

The prize for the two teams who do emerge for the August 26 decider is the first grand final at the new Ballymore.

With seating for more than 3000 in the new McLean Stand and upgraded facilities, it will be the first feature game of the ground’s rebirth.

“It was awesome to win the grand final at Suncorp Stadium last year. There’ll be a more grassroots feel to having the grand final at Ballymore and awesome to have the stand full.