The Glanville family are no strangers to McDonald Jones Stadium.
Marc plied his trade at the Turton Road venue for a decade with the Newcastle Knights while children Jordan and Ryan, born a year prior to the premiership season of 1997, watched dad from the grandstand.
The roles will be completely reversed on Sunday, with Jordan and Ryan taking centre stage as players on Newcastle Rugby League grand final day and Marc coaching from the sidelines.
The trio will all be representing Souths.
Marc as coach of Jordan’s ladies league tag team and 21-year-old Ryan as captain of the Lions first grade side.
“It will be a special one,” father Marc said.
“Pretty amazing really, that Jordan gets to play on the big stage as well. Five, 10 years ago she wouldn’t have been able to do that. Such a great opportunity
“And to have Ryan leading first grade out as well, makes it a big occasion for the family.”
Souths five-eighth Ryan, in his second full season playing in the top grade, said sharing the experience with family only makes it better.
“It’s always great to be able to make a finals appearance, especially in first grade, but to do it after your sister plays her grand final earlier in the day certainly makes it a little bit more special,” Ryan said.
Elder sibling Jordan, 24, echoed those sentiments.
“We were only talking about it at training on Tuesday night,” she said.
“A couple of years ago we never would have even imagined that we’d be able to play in a grand final at the same field on the same day as our brothers. So it’s pretty special and we are definitely going to take that on board this weekend.”
The crossover continues for the Glanville family, with Ryan’s girlfriend Maddie Scullion also lining up for Souths’ ladies league tag team.
Jordan’s boyfriend Josh Kessler doesn’t play rugby league with Souths but for The Entrance, who won the Central Coast reserve grade grand final on the weekend.
“It means he can come up and watch, but the pressure is on now,” Jordan said.
Mother Sharon and brother Matt will also be part of the Glanville support crew.
