For former Waratahs tourist and Sydney University centre Will McDonnell one of the best things about coming home has been the opportunity to lace up the boots alongside older brother, and Narrabri stalwart, Matt.
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It's something he has been wanting to do "for a long time".
The five year age gap and different paths post school - Matt came back home for what was supposed to be a gap year and stayed on, while Will stayed on in Sydney - had meant that before this season the two had never actually played together.
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On Saturday the duo will be keys for the Blue Boars as they look to bounce back from their stumble against Pirates last week and avenge for their first round defeat to Walcha.
Handing the Blue Boars their first loss for the season, the Rams put 50 on them.
Neither side though is expecting a repeat of that.
The Blue Boars were severely depleted that day with McDonnell among a handful of first grade regulars they were missing due to Matt's wedding.
"It will be good, especially at home," Will said.
"We haven't played at home for a while."
He said running out with Matt against Quirindi for the first time together was pretty special.
"I'm sure dad would have been proud as well, he's a Blue Boars fanatic," he said.
The game also marked his first (competition) game for the Blue Boars since he made his first grade debut against Pirates back in 2014. He was still at school then and home for the holidays.
Joining Sydney Uni the following year, he spent six seasons playing with the Shute Shield heavyweights. Along the way he savoured premiership success, achieved individual accolades at both a club and competition level, got the Waratahs call-up for a mid-season tour and turned out for the NSW Country Eagles.
Not many better club rugby nurseries, McDonnell reflects on his time down there fondly.
"It was an awesome six years, learnt a lot," he said.
He said the plan was always to return to the region, COVID probably just accelerated it a bit.
"With all the uncertainty in Sydney it sort of made it an easy decision to come back," he said.
He still has a couple of subjects to go. He is studying those externally in between helping his dad out with the contracting side of the family's farming operation.
The Blue Boars have named a completely new front row but are otherwise unchanged from the side that gave Pirates a late scare last week.
Their clash with the Rams is one of two blockbusters with Pirates headed up to Moree also on a revenge mission after the Bulls rolled them on home turf in their previous meeting.
In the other Round 13 action, Scone host Inverell and Barraba tackle Quirindi.
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