Shute Shield Grand Final: Jack Margin goes from last in 2018 to decider

Jack Margin wants to be one of those rare rugby players who have stuck with a club through its worst season to then play a part in its best.

James Margin has stayed loyal to the club which finished last in 2018.

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It’s not nice to remember - loosing 17 games on the trot.

But Jack Margin says he loves underdog stories.

As a youngster he was part of a Central Coast club that emerged form a dry spell to win a series of grand finals.

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Now, at 24, he’s hoping to be part of the same sort of turnaround with Gordon, a club that two years ago lost every game in the Shute Shield to finish dead last but now heads into this weekend’s grand final as favourities.

Margin in action against Eastwood earlier this season. Pic: Karen Watson

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“I was part of one of those teams that got flogged a lot then won. I like the underdog story,” said Margin, who played for Ourimbah as a junior.

The 200cm Gordon gun said while the rugby wasn’t enjoyable in 2018 the club and his teammates were.

“There were still a lot of good people around all trying hard. We just needed a clean slate.

“The Gordon faithful stuck together as a club but there were guys questioning if it was worth it. I contemplated thinking was it worth it?

‘I think it has built character for the club. We know what the club used to be like and we don’t want to go back to there.

Margin stands tall in the Shute Shield.

“The colts program is filtering into grade and we have won our first club championship. That was an achievement in itself.”

Darren Coleman’s Gordon are already the minor premiers and go into the grand final match against Eastwood at Leichhardt Oval on Saturday as favourites.

“I wanted to win the Shute Shield with Gordon more than anything,” Margin said.

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GRAND FINAL

Saturday at Leichhardt Oval (3pm AEDT)

Gordon v Eastwood

Live TV on 7Two and 7plus