Bikes, beers and cheers: Gold Coast Suns reveal their family festivities
As Christmas fast-approaches and Santa gears up to pull his miraculous all-nighter, we speak to the Gold Coast Suns to find out what they get up to during the festive season.
Sport
Don't miss out on the headlines from Sport. Followed categories will be added to My News.
As Christmas fast-approaches and Santa gears up to pull his miraculous all-nighter, we speak to the Gold Coast Suns to find out what they get up to during the festive season.
From memories of unwrapping their first bike, to digging into a feast of roast pork and leg ham, here’s what a Suns Christmas looks like.
Plus, who is the Grinch of the Suns?
WILL GRAHAM
Q: How do you spend Christmas?
A: This year is pretty similar to every other year. We’ve got some family travelling to our house to celebrate. There’ll be my mum, brother and I plus Nan and Pop.
Q: What’s on the menu?
A: They’ll definitely be a few prawns and a big leg of ham. I usually get through most of it (the ham), and leave the prawns for my mum and brother.
Q: Do you have a drink of choice?
A: Well this is my first Christmas where I can drink so I’m not sure yet. I’ll experiment but probably stick to Diet Coke and water.
Q: What is your favourite Christmas memory?
A: That’s a tough one. It was probably when I was eight and I got my first bike [without the training wheels] and that was pretty special. My first proper bike.
ALEX DAVIES
Q: How do you spend Christmas?
A: Well in Cairns we’re usually locked in, being the wet season [exhibit A: Ex-TC Jasper]. Everyone is everywhere this year because my sister’s in Melbourne and Mum’s working. When I was a kid it would just be us together and we would watch the NBA. I usually travel to Japan this time of year and spend time with my grandparents but Japan is just big on Christmas decorations, not the actual tradition.
Q: What is your favourite Christmas memory?
A: I think I went to Japan Disneyland one year. It was packed and we waited 2 hours for every ride.
Q: Do you have a drink of choice?
A: I’d probably go with Umeshu, which is a Japanese plum liqueur. I just have it on ice, or an Asahi. If I’m in Cairns it would be a Great Northern [not a first preference].
Q: Do you have a Christmas comfort movie?
A: Elf is always a good one.
HEWAGO OEA (Ace)
Q: Do you have a Christmas comfort movie?
A: Home Alone. Growing up and coming up to Christmas that’s always been my favourite movie, you can’t go past it.
Q: What’s on the menu?
A: For lunch probably prawns and then a big pork roast for dinner.
Q: Do you have a drink of choice?
A: Coke No Sugar and maybe a few UDLs [classic lolly water].
Q: How do you spend Christmas?
A: Last year I went home and spent Christmas with my family. This year I’ll stay here to spend it with my girlfriend and her family.
Q: Will you be following the training program?
A: We have a strict program but I’m pretty open [mischievous laugh]. If some of the boys want to, we message and come together to get in that extra training. It sets us up for next year.
BEN AINSWORTH
Q: Do you have a Christmas comfort movie?
A: Probably Elf with Will Ferrell [sound familiar, Alex]?
Q: What’s on the menu?
A: We often have prawns in the morning then go into lunch with all the stock standard roasts, a Chrissy ham and some nice desserts like pavlova (made by Grandma, obviously). I dig into all of it but love the ham.
Q: Do you have a drink of choice?
A: Chrissy day I usually have an Asahi [Ben and Alex have a lot in common[.
Q: How do you spend Christmas?
A: I’m from Gippsland, Victoria so we’ll travel down and spend Christmas with friends and family. With my family there’s about 30 of us and it’s the same for my partner’s family, but we celebrate separately, so double the presents.
LEVI CASBOULT
Q: Do you have a Christmas comfort movie?
A: Probably Santa Claus or Home Alone 1. The first one is always the best.
Q: What’s on the menu?
A: Oh, what have I ordered? A roast lunch with some ham, roast turkey and probably seafood for dinner.
Q: How do you spend Christmas?
A: This year the family are coming to me, but usually we split and I either travel to my family or to my wife’s family.
Q: Do you have a drink of choice?
A: I’m pretty easy and would be happy with just a beer.
JACK LUCOSIUS
Q: What’s on the menu?
A: Roast everything: beef, chicken, lamb. I dig into the chicken and lamb. It’s a big family and they usually go over on food.
Q: How do you spend Christmas?
A: They’re all in Adelaide and I’m the only one here so I’ll head down and see my family.
Q: Do you have a Christmas comfort movie?
A: I’ve already watched Elf [I see a theme], already watched The Polar Express and already watched Love Actually. There’s probably a few more to come.
Q: Do you have a drink of choice?
A: I’m bringing the red wine this year, so I’ll probably have a few.
Q: What is your favourite Christmas memory?
A: I’d have to say my first bike under the tree. Waking up, seeing a big bike and then just riding around all day. It was wrapped like a bike, but who knows when you’re a kid. I think it had no training wheels [we had to check].
More Coverage
Originally published as Bikes, beers and cheers: Gold Coast Suns reveal their family festivities
Meninga Cup finals fever: Teams of the Decade from your club
Meninga Cup semi-final special: How’s this for six Teams of the Decade - so far - from the clubs about to enter a finals football pressure cooker. See who has starred for Norths, Souths, Redcliffe, Mackay, Burleigh and Tweed here.
Bold prediction: Meninga Cup’s finals players most likely to play NRL
Meninga Cup’s bold NRL player predictions: Who were the 20 teen footballers from the six clubs remaining in premiership contention most likely to play in the NRL? Revealed here.