It won’t be the first time the Charles brothers have played together in a grand final, and it may not be the last.
Regardless, two of five Griffith-raised siblings are hoping to add another first grade premiership to their already impressive collection at McDonald Jones Stadium on Sunday.
Twenty-eight-year-old miner Josh and 33-year-old concreter Kodie, centre and prop respectively for the Seagulls, were successful in claiming the Group 20 title with junior club Waratah in 2008 and 2010 before triumphing with Riverina rivals Black and Whites last year.
Now, after teaming up at Lakes in 2018, they have the chance to clinch a maiden Newcastle Rugby League crown alongside one another when the Seagulls clash with Souths.
“We’ve done it a couple of times now, but to play alongside him in a grand final up here [in Newcastle] will be something different and something we haven’t done before,” Josh said.
In between stints home at Griffith, Josh was fortunate enough to taste success solo with Lakes three years ago and scored a try in the decider but recalls a tough initiation in 2013 when the Seagulls picked up the wooden spoon without a win to their name.
It has been contrasting fortunes for Kodie, who made the 725-kilometre move north-east to Newcastle this season and already has a minor premiership plus grand final appearance.
“I’ve really enjoyed it this year and the football up here is fairly strong,” Kodie said.
“It’s pretty even across the competition and the hardest it’s ever been they reckon. So to be in a GF, I didn't think I’d get this far this year, but we got there.”
Both the Charles boys stood out for Lakes in Sunday’s preliminary final, producing big plays in a 38-16 win over Kurri at Townson Oval.
Both also crossed for tries, only increasing the banter between the pair, with Kodie now on five for the campaign and Josh narrowly trailling on four.
“I haven’t let him forget I’m in front,” Kodie said.
The friendly rivalry stems from many a backyard battle with three other brothers and a stack of cousins.
“When we were younger growing up there was plenty of competition," Josh said.
Kodie added: “there was plenty of blood, sweat and tears in the backyard as kids”.
As for 2019 and beyond.
“I was thinking this might have been my last year, but the coach has still been trying to talk to us and what not,” Kodie said. “I’ll see how I pull up after this game I think.”
Josh reckons it has been the in-house joke: “I keep saying this might be the last grand final we get to play together because he’s getting a bit long in the tooth”.
The Charles support crew will be in full swing at Broadmeadow this weekend with attendance expected from Josh and Kodie’s parents, partners and six children, split evenly between them.
“They’ll be here and I got the kids their little supporter shirts, but I’ve got a five-month-old and there were no shirts small enough to fit him,” Josh said.
