WHILE North Launceston prides itself on being a family club, the Western Storm has family connections of its own in today's TSL grand final with two pairs of brothers lining up for the club.
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Will and Matt Hanson and Beau and Cody Thorp were part of last year's premiership success at South Launceston and will be key players today if the Storm is get across the line.
Western Storm coach Mitch Hills said the sibling pairs made for contrasting types but all four brought something special to the club.
"Beau and Cody are very important to the side and the boys enjoy having them out there - they bring enthusiasm and enjoyment to the game and it is evident when they are not there," Hills said.
"Structurally, they are very important to us and always play their roles.
"We saw that when Cody came back in the ruck and lifted the boys immediately and was probably a large reason why we won the game against Lauderdale.
"They are similar personality-wise and love a joke and a bit of a muck-around, and we've got a pretty quiet group so they bring that enthusiasm and vocals to the group."
Hills said the Hanson brothers, Will, 20, and Matt 19, had both enjoyed outstanding seasons playing in the state team and being picked in the TSL team of the year.
"Matt and Will are outstanding in the way they go about their footy - their professionalism, their recovery, and their preparation for games and the expectations on the field that they have are higher than I've ever seen," Hills said.
"I would put both of them in the top bracket in the competition easily.
"At their age to be playing such good footy on a regular basis - they were a very big part of the premiership year last year at South and then to come across to a new club and have such an outstanding year has been really beneficial to them and the club, so all credit to those two."
But whereas the Thorp brothers are "supportive of each other and a tight unit", Hills said the Hanson boys were a little bit different in their relationship.
"Will and Matt get into each other a bit more and push and drive each other and there is definitely a bit of sibling rivalry there between those two."