Connor Brown hoping to use senior Thunder experience when he captains Gold Coast’s under-18s

HE’S the unheralded teen who emerged as Gold Coast’s surprise Schaeffer Shield hero but Connor Brown will waste no time in plotting another quest for representative glory.

HE’S the unheralded teen who emerged as Gold Coast’s surprise Schaeffer Shield hero but Connor Brown will waste no time in plotting another quest for representative glory.

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At just 18, the left-arm Mudgeeraba Nerang quick was a key figure in the Thunder’s runner-up finish for the South Queensland title, collecting a competition-high seven wickets at an average of 7.7.

Making his senior debut for the Thunder last month, he snared 2-2 in a Twenty20 victory over South East Queensland before taking 1-22 in Saturday’s win over Wide Bay and 4-30 in a losing effort against Darling Downs on Sunday.

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While he missed selection in the South Queensland team to face North Queensland at Beenleigh later this month, Brown will get another shot at representative success when he captains Gold Coast’s under-18s at the McPherson Shield on December 6-8.

The recent Palm Beach Currumbin State High graduate played a key role as the Thunder claimed back-to-back under-18 crowns last season, picking up seven wickets at 10.7.

Connor Brown in action for Mudgeeraba Nerang earlier this season. Picture: Lawrence Pinder

He will now use the experience garnered from his senior Thunder commitments, where he lined up alongside South Queensland selectees Nic Peterson, Jimmy Spargo, Josh Nelson and Sam Winton, as the under-18s chase a title hat-trick.

“I was there last year as an under-age and had an awesome carnival so hopefully I can just take some of the things I’ve learned from the men’s (competition) into that and we can go three years in a row for the championship,” Brown, who made his Kookaburra Cup debut for Mudgeeraba last season, said.

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“I’d like to think (I can take in some extra leadership). The captaincy is a huge honour. It comes with big responsibility though and I look forward to the weekend.

“I thought (playing for the Thunder men) was just a big learning curve, I wasn’t really expecting to be leading wicket-taker. I was expecting to go away and bowl a couple of overs and just take it all in.”

Josh Nelson was one of four Thunder players picked in the South Queensland team. Picture: Richard Gosling

While disappointed Gold Coast could not end its three-year Schaeffer Shield drought, Brown was adamant the team was on the right track.

“I thought we combined really well and we all did everything we could to win the shield but unfortunately it didn’t go our way,” he said.

“Personally, I was really happy with my performance but I’m more of a team player and I was really happy with how the team went. The team comes first.

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“It was pretty nerve wracking at the start but once I got out there I kind of just felt at home. I just got around the boys, do what I normally do and just treat it like any other game. All the boys have been awesome.”

Mudgeeraba and fellow unbeaten side Broadbeach Robina will meet in a top-of-the-table Kookaburra Cup clash on Saturday.