Illawarra Cup legend Wayne Bremner hangs up the boots after grand final heroics

Wayne Bremner was a major doubt to even make it on the field for the grand final. He ended up playing the full 80 minutes in a farewell performance that will go down in Illawarra Cup folklore.

Wayne Bremner, grand final winner 2023. Picture: Rohan Cooke | Thirroul Butchers Facebook

Wayne Bremner’s performance in the Illawarra Cup grand final was comparable to Cooper Cronk’s 2018 grand final heroics for the Sydney Roosters.

A performance to go down in Illawarra Cup grand final folklore, the veteran fullback played out the full 80 minutes for the Thirroul Butchers in their 24-18 grand final triumph over Collegians, hobbling his way through the pain barrier and coming up with some decisive defensive moments.

Now with a second Illawarra Cup under his belt, Bremner is calling it a day and hanging up the boots for good at age 32.

After picking up a knee injury in the preliminary final a week prior, Bremner remained touch-and-go on his playing chances all the way up until the morning before the final.

“It was a strange grand final build-up in a way, there were mixed emotions knowing I could be potentially missing my last grand final,” Bremner said.

Job well done. Bremner celebrates a premiership with his son. Picture: Thomas Lisson.

“The plan was to just not run at all during the week, trying to get the swelling out of the knee and figure out what exactly was wrong.

“I did a test 10 minutes of running on Friday morning and said to the coach that it feels good enough, so we got the green light.”

And so against the odds, Bremner donned the no. 1 jersey on the grand stage for one last hoorah, not only seeing out the full game, but being one of the best performers on the park.

“When he hurt his knee last week, you still had a feeling he’d make it for the final, you’d back Brem on one knee anyway,” said Thirroul captain Hayden Crossland.

“I’m pretty sure he made 25-odd carries on a bung knee, he was unreal.”

Wayne Bremner, grand final winner 2023. Picture: Rohan Cooke | Thirroul Butchers Facebook

“Around the 20 minute mark I actually hurt the other knee tackling one of their wingers,” Bremner said.

“Then come the back end of the second half my right knee, the one that was already injured, was really struggling.

“I considered coming off a few times, we had a good young fullback on the bench [Dane Courtney], but perhaps a bit selfishly I wanted to be out there for my last game.”

Despite his limp becoming more prominent throughout the match, Bremner continued to contribute all over the park, forcing a couple of Collegians dropouts with neat grubber kicks, as well as producing a matchwinning tackle on Sam McCann down the left touchline.

Bremner trying to stop a flying Sam McCann from scoring. Picture: Thomas Lisson.

“Wayne was outstanding,” said Thirroul head coach Jarrod Costello.

“The lengths he went to just to get on the field and then play the way he did, it goes to show what he’s like.”

“He’s the kind of guy you want around your club, an honest player and a good person.”

The full-time siren sealed a second Illawarra Cup for Bremner after his 2015 triumph with Helensburgh, a special moment for the fullback to do it again alongside best mate and Player of the Match Jarrod Boyle.

“It was the perfect fairytale finish in a way,” Bremner said.

“We started playing footy together as young kids in the shire … I kept thinking about it during the season how perfect it would be to end it with another premiership together.

“For us to go out and do it and for him to play as well as he did, it was just perfect.

From Helensburgh to Thirroul, it's been quite the journey together for Wayne Bremner and Jarrod Boyle. Pictures: Dorian Cobb, Denis Ivaneza, Thomas Lisson

“We had a special moment as full time, we locked eyes from afar and just had a massive hug.”

“Both premierships are amazing memories for different reasons; one I was a young kid and had put years and years into a club before finally getting it done. This one was special for different reasons, having thought my career was done and being so close to not being able to play.”

Calling time on his career, Bremner is turning his focus to the next stage of his life. He has a third child on the way in the coming weeks and a next generation of the Bremner clan to look after now.

“I’m just keen to slow down, spend time with the family, start surfing,” Bremner said.

“I’ll still get up and watch some games of footy, I might get back involved in the club when my kids get to the age of playing.”