Burleigh prop Jack Buchanan & wife Maddy expecting birth of baby on Sunday - the same day as ISC grand final

BURLEIGH Bears prop Jack Buchanan and wife Maddy could be celebrating more than an Intrust Super Cup premiership come Sunday night.

BURLEIGH Bears prop Jack Buchanan and wife Maddy could be celebrating more than an Intrust Super Cup premiership come Sunday night.

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With Maddy due to give birth to the couple’s first child – a girl – on the same day as Burleigh’s 3.15pm grand final showdown with Wynnum Manly, Buchanan is anxiously playing a waiting game.

Remarkably, the situation could have been twice as stressful as teammate Sam Coster and partner Taylor also anticipated a Sunday arrival. Daughter Elkie arrived on Wednesday morning.

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“We’ve had a couple of chats but we haven’t got an exact plan. It will be something that we do have to discuss,” 27-year-old Buchanan said of the possible weekend baby scenarios.

“Hopefully (Sunday) is not the day of the birth. Either way (is fine) as long as it’s healthy but after (the game) would be good so preparation is not any different.

Jack Buchanan and his wife Maddy are expecting a baby who is due on Sunday, Jack's grand final day. Pic Tim Marsden

“When we moved back to Australia we found out that it could be potentially (the same day) but you don’t hang your hopes on being in the grand final. I wasn’t really thinking about it and then we got into the finals and I thought ‘this could be happening now’.

“Maddy is very understanding. Depending on when it (the delivery) was, I’d still be playing but obviously you don’t want to miss the birth of your first child.

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“If it was around kick-off I would probably still play because it could still take a few hours. (Having kids) is obviously something most people want to do so to have the first on the way, I can’t wait.”

Together for four years before tying the knot last October, Jack and Maddy returned to Australia in late 2018 after the former Wests Tigers front-rower’s playing stints at Widnes and Toronto.

Burleigh lock Sam Coster with partner Taylor and baby girl Elkie. Picture: SUPPLIED

With 41 games of NRL experience under his belt, Buchanan has been a standout in his first season for the Bears, averaging 113.5 running metres and 22 tackles per game. He was again prominent in last weekend’s 24-6 preliminary-final demolition of record-breaking minor premiers Sunshine Coast and mother-to-be Maddy won’t begrudge him a shot at ISC silverware.

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“He is so excited to be in a grand final so there’s no way I would say to him ‘you’re not playing’. He will definitely be there on Sunday,” Maddy, 30, said. “I’m just excited about the footy. The baby is exciting but we know that is going to come anyway. I’m just positive that she’s going to hang in there until after the game.”