Brothers ironman Brad Hemopo has revealed that Sunday's Sumo Energy Hospital Cup grand final at Ballymore Stadium will be his final game before retirement.
Flanker Hemopo, 32, told his Brothers' teammates at training on Thursday night although he'd confided in skipper Will Wilson and pack mate Dom Fraser over dinner a few days earlier.
Many in club rugby only scratch skin deep and see him as the standout Brothers backrower who has been one of the best in the Hospital Cup for the past four seasons.
There is far more to this career. The rugby-loving Kiwi played for clubs in New Zealand, for Manly and Northern Suburbs in Sydney's Shute Shield, the New England Free Jacks in the US and Kurita Water Gush in Japan before landing in Brisbane.
"The time is right after more than 300 first grade games around the place. The body is telling me and I have a young family. Hopefully, there is another premiership first," Hemopo said.
A teaching job and a coaching pathway will take him back to Sydney next year.
He is a key figure in Sunday's grand final against Wests, having tasted grand final success with Brothers in 2023 and 2024.
His workrate in multiple areas, his lineout skills, his consistency...he's a player every rival coach would like in his pack.
Brothers have a rich history of quality performers with Kiwi accents who have devoted seasons to Brothers not just the cameo of a few games. The late Ron Price and Rod Kelleher are just two names. Hemopo is another.
"It's not about me. Sunday is about a good, committed group of boys who have been building nicely since pre-season," Hemopo said.
"We have pretty much gone unbeaten through the season but for a single loss.
"It's the best feeling representing your club and the fans running on the field at the end of a winning grand final. It was a pretty tough loss (to Bond University) in the final minutes of last year's grand final and we've taken what we learnt into this year.
"I really enjoy Brothers. It's great to see that support on old boys' hill at every home game.
"I'll do something with all the jerseys I've collected over the years and my Brothers' jerseys will be proudly amongst them."
Hemopo has only missed four games in four seasons, a feat even more remarkable because the one game he bypassed this season was because of his own wedding in Queenstown to sweetheart Hannah.
Hemopo is wary of Wests as a grand final opponent, having already been involved in the tense 2023 and 2024 deciders which were both won by just two points.
"Wests have a lot of talent with players from different places. They are very physical and that's what they will want to be on Sunday. We can match that," Hemopo said.
Hemopo is a fan of the Brisbane club scene.
"It's a pretty strong comp and to see the growing strength of grassroots with Norths this season was great," Hemopo added.
"It's awesome to see players come through. I rate Vaiuta Latu as our No.8. It's the end for me but the absolutely start of a strong career for him.
"I always wanted to play with my son watching. (One-year-old) Alfie will get to do that on Sunday."
Queensland Reds Tim Ryan, Matt Faessler, Josh Flook, Charlie Brosnan and Latu will all play for Brothers on Sunday while the Western Force-bound Harry McLaughlin-Phillips will be an ace for Wests.
Queensland women's captain Jemma Bemrose will be at the forefront of the Bond University challenge for a fifth straight title in the Sumo Energy Founders Cup grand final against Sunnybank on Saturday at Ballymore.
The Bull Sharks will be out to equal Sunnybank's own record run of five titles between 2015 and 2019.
