The calls from Kane Douglas’ dad to switch back to rugby league appear numbered – then again, a Wallabies call-up can have that effect.
In scenes that would have warmed his father’s heart in the past, Kane on Wednesday threw a Steeden around at league stronghold Skilled Park with his older brother Luke Douglas – the NRL’s tireless Gold Coast Titans forward.
However, the brothers had come together to celebrate Kane’s upcoming Wallabies rugby debut against Argentina at the same Gold Coast venue on Saturday.
“For the first few years when I started the Waratahs academy on not much money he’d call and say `what are doing next year – you wanna come back and play league?” Kane, 23, said of his dad.
“He has probably realised now I am not going to swap back.”
Growing up, Luke was the family star after emerging from some bruising backyard games to make his NRL debut for the Sharks back in 2006.
“Wherever there was a patch of grass, sand or even bitumen we were taking each other on,” Luke said of their childhood.
Luke’s star has hardly dimmed since switching to the Titans this year.
Considered unlucky to miss out on NSW Origin selection, he has enhanced his reputation as the NRL’s ironman by racking up 168 consecutive games.
But there is no doubt who will be stealing the limelight not only in the Douglas household but their hometown of Yamba in northern NSW this weekend.
“We are a league family. But it’s a strong rugby community back home,” Luke said.
“So the whole family is coming to watch Kane and I think a lot from our hometown.
“I am still getting the rules of rugby but I don’t mind watching it.
“Dad always says `I paid my money so I can say what I want’ but rugby is more of a gentleman’s game so he might want to keep it to a minimum.”
Kane was unexpectedly preferred over the more experienced Rob Simmons to replace Sitakeli Timani (hamstring) and partner his childhood hero Nathan Sharpe, who takes over the Wallabies captaincy.
“It’s very special. I have been watching him (Sharpe) play since I have been real little,” Kane said.
Luke has watched Kane go to the “dark side” after at one stage luring him down to Sydney to train with the Sharks’ under 16s NRL side.
And it appears he has lost another sibling – youngest brother Jake, aged 20.
“He plays with Kane’s Shute Shield team Southern Districts,” he said.
“He has got a bit more mongrel and aggression about him but he’s a bit smarter than us – he’s doing environmental engineering at Wollongong.”
It’s enough to sway the balance of power in the Douglas home.
But asked which sport their dad now loved the most, Luke said diplomatically: “He just loves his sons”.
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