After missing the on-field action in last year’s StoreLocal Hospital Cup finals, UQ’s Cam Flavell is back for the Heavies and ready for another tilt at the title.
The hooker injured his knee weeks before the 2022 finals series, with Wallaby duo Stephen Moore and James Hanson eventually helping the Students to the premiership in the hooking roles.
“I was gutted personally, but at the end of the day it’s a team sport and it was good to get the result,” Flavell said.
“With guys like Chibba and Squeak in the mix, I couldn’t really complain too much about missing out.”
Although he mightn’t have featured on the turf of Suncorp Stadium, Flavell savoured the Heavies’ Grand Final success with the rest of his teammates, his second premiership after featuring for Uni in their 2019 title run.
“It was a great few weeks, a few of us boys made sure we stuck around each other – it’s not often you can win a premiership,” he said.
“It’s a great family culture at the Red Heavies, it was good to get the win last year.”
The 27-year-old took plenty away from his time working with Hanson and Moore, Flavell soaking up information from the pair who share over 300 Super Rugby caps and almost 150 Tests between them.
“I learnt a lot from those guys last year,” he said.
“They’ve been great mentors for me and have helped take my game to another level.”
He’ll need all of that knowledge this weekend the Students take on Wests, with Josh Nasser’s untimely injury likely seeing Flavell return to the starting XV at Yoku Road this Saturday.
Flavell will go up against another Wallaby in Jordan Eulese, as well as the competition’s form hooker Ethan Dobbins as the minor premiers look to lay a platform at set-piece time.
“We’re absolutely gutted for Nass,” Flavell said of his teammate who dislocated his ankle last week.
“He’s a good mate of mine and I’ve spent some time with him over the last few days. He’s in good spirits and getting behind the boys at the moment, so we want to make sure we get behind him too.
“They’ve been fantastic [Wests]. A big forward pack and they move around the park well with some obviously really talented backs.
“I think they deserve the minor premiership and they’re in a good spot, we’re looking forward to the opportunity to come up against them.
“We love the set-piece battle and it’ll be a good one this weekend.”
Finals aren’t an unfamiliar place for Flavell and UQ, with the club full of faces who know what it takes to win it all come this time of the season.
Head coach Mick Heenan has led the club to six premierships in the last 12-years, while the likes of assistant coach Elton Berrange, skipper Pat Morrey and a host of other stars have been here all before.
“They’re fantastic, their record speaks for itself,” Flavell said of Heenan and Berrange.
“They get the boys prepared mentally and physically for each game, it’s great having them in our corner guiding us through training and games.
“I think we’re starting to get there and building at the right time, but we don’t want to take anything for granted.
“Not too much changes for us, we know the task at hand and the style of footy we want to play.”
Despite the Heavies decade of dominance, one thing has eluded the club – back-to-back premierships.
No side has achieved the feat since Canberra’s three-peat from 2001-2003, with the Students having the chance to enter some rare air this season.
“A few of us boys have been around the game for a few years now and it’s been a massive goal,” Flavell said.
“You obviously work for it all year, there’s family sacrifices you have to make so we’re all excited.
“We are just taking it week-by-week and hopefully we’ll be there at the end.”
Uni will take on Wests in the major semi-final at 3:10pm this Saturday September 3 at GPS Rugby Club. Watch live via Stan Sport or 9Gem.
