Kevin Proctor’s selfless act for Currumbin Eagles

It was a proud moment for Proctor, who recalls fondly his own junior premiership win with the club who embraced him as a gangly Kiwi teen new to the Coast.

Gold Coast Titans skipper Kevin Proctor was only a week freed from the NRL’s COVID-19 bubble when he received a call to action from his junior footy club.

It was grand final day on Saturday – was he free to lend a hand?

Proctor didn’t hesitate, which is how an NRL captain and premiership-winning backrower wound up running the water for the Currumbin Eagles Under-18s and Under-20s grand final victories on the weekend.

17th October 2020, Gold Coast Titans player Kevin Proctor ran water for the Currumbin Eagles during the Gold Coast Rugby League Grand Final against the Burleigh Bears played at CBus Stadium Photo: Scott Powick Newscorp

It was a proud moment for Proctor, who recalls fondly his own junior premiership win with the club who embraced him as a gangly Kiwi teen new to the Coast.

“I was pretty stoked to go down and help out,” Proctor said.

“My mate is the vice-president of the club and he asked me to come down.

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“They’re a good bunch of kids and I got to catch up with them the whole week, going to their training sessions and getting to know them.

“I probably wasn’t trying to inspire them, just letting them know if they had any questions to ask or any support I could give them that I was there for them.

“That was the whole reason, to go down and support them in the biggest game of their careers.

“I was telling them I’d played in some big games but these are the ones you remember, playing with the mates you’ve grown up with.

“I started with Currumbin in under-15s and we won the premiership in under-16s.

17th October 2020, Gold Coast Titans player Kevin Proctor ran water for the Currumbin Eagles during the Gold Coast Rugby League Grand Final against the Burleigh Bears played at CBus Stadium Photo: Scott Powick Newscorp

“I always remember my grand final with them and they’re the special games you remember.”

The final also presented an opportunity to catch up with a former teammate in Matt Geyer, who played alongside Proctor at the Storm and now coaches Currumbin’s Under-20s.

“I was stoked for Matty,” Proctor said.

“He’s a great person and a great coach and to see their team win after going a man down for the last 10 minutes, I was stoked with them.

“There’s plenty of young talent there and to see all three grades winning in the final was mad.”

Geyer said it was a testament to the culture at the club that Old Boys like Proctor wanted to come back and help out.

“He’s very proud of his junior club,” Geyer said.

“He’s always connected and Nick Daley (vice-president) keeps him in the loop about how we’re travelling.

“Kevvy is a very keen observer of the club and as shown on the weekend he gets back around the boys.

“We have a great culture and people want to be involved.

“It’s not a club he’s embarassed of, it’s a club he wants to champion.

“Kevvy coming back and additing to it ensures that won’t be changing.”

Earlier:

Runaway Bay five-eighth Guy Hamilton was five years old when he climbed onto his dad’s shoulders to soak in the Seagulls’ 2000 Premiership lap of honour.

His father Brian had shaken off a knee injury to play every minute of Runaway Bay’s grand final win over Burleigh.

On Saturday, 20 years later, Guy will follow in his father’s footsteps and lead Runaway Bay to another grand final against that same foe.

The poetry of what he has set out to achieve has not been lost on the 25-year-old.

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Like his father, Guy is a Queensland Cup goalkicking ace who parachuted into Runaway Bay for a season at the club’s invitation.

Former Runaway Bay player Brian Hamilton watches his son Guy Hamilton walk in his footsteps 20 years later, playing for Runaway Bay in the Grand final. Picture Glenn Hampson.

His team, bolstered by fellow Queensland Cup veterans Harrison Muller and Alex Bishop, among others, is arguably the most talented side the Bay has fielded since 2000.

That champion outfit featured Hamilton, a nine-year Wynnum Manly Seagulls representative, alongside future St George Illawarra premiership-winner Jeremy Smith and Craig Wallace, the father of six-game Maroons prop Jarrod.

The 2000 crew met up at Sunday’s semi-final clash with Mudgeeraba for their 20-year reunion, passing on lessons and guidance to the next crop of Seagulls premiership-hopefuls.

“Dad’s tip was for me to play my own footy,” Guy Hamilton said.

“Obviously Grand Finals are hard to get in no matter what grade. They’re hard to come by so he said to enjoy the week and take it all in.

“I was at the game (in 2000) and there’s still a photo at the club with me and him on the lap of honour.

“When Nick (Gleeson, coach) got in touch with Harrison Muller about playing I had a chat with dad. He definitely thought I’d like the opportunity to go down there and do what he did.

“It’s in my bloodline so it’s pretty cool for us to have an opportunity to win a grand final 20 years later as well.”

Runaway Bay's Guy Hamilton in action against Burleigh during their Rugby League match at Pizzey Park on the Gold Coast. Photograph : Jason O'Brien

Brian Hamilton said although his time at Runaway Bay was short the impressions left on him were indelible.

“It was a really good family club,” he said.

“I gave Guy advice on going there because of that family orientation.

“I did my knee in the first 15-20 minutes but I’d never won a senior grand final so I had to get back out there.

“I played the whole second half we won, and what made it even more special was to do the lap around the field with my boy.

“We’re all going to be there at CBUS on the weekend and if Guy wins it would be great to get out there and do lap of honour with him this time.”