Jake is back actively organising the Ratz’ back line from halfback after occupying much of the last two seasons recovering from a major knee reconstruction from a ruptured A.C.L. ligament in the 2015 preliminary final against Gloucester,  in the process coaching the Ratz into last winter’s preliminary final.

Jock, the 21-year-old brother of Jake, experienced a far more disastrous accident, surviving a near fatal fall from a six-storey high-rise building in Newcastle in 2016.

In the fall, Jake recounted, Jock was “fortunate” to strike his head on a metal awning, gashing his scalp horrifically so that he required a multiple number of staples in the injury.

“In fact, it was a miracle he hit the awning. It probably saved his life otherwise he would have fallen head-first onto concrete,” Jake said.

“His injuries were so serious that for a fortnight we were not sure if he would survive.”

With typical family spirit and resilience after months of convalescence and surgery, Jock is back working out in the gymnasium to regain his strength and mobility.

The Ratz had a shaky start to the season including a four-tries to nil and  26-0 loss to the Dolphins last month, but last Saturday’s game against the Lower Mid North Coast champions, the Wallamba Bulls, saw a vast improvement in the side, scoring four tries and only beaten by Steven “Shorty” Curnow’s goal-kicking in their 26-24 defeat.

“We had a really, tough physical game against the Bulls. We started slowly and they ran to a 21-7 lead. But our forwards developed some momentum and we finished very pleasingly,” Maurirere said.

Steve Rees has returned to the Ratz and is occupying a position in the front row, beefing up their scrum with the developing young props, Chris Noonan and Stephen Fitzsimmons.

One factor in the Bulls’ apparent decline last weekend was the injury to their tight forward, Daniel Sawyer, who sustained a double fracture of the collar bone when a rival forward dived on him after a lineout, an injury which led to a 10-minute interruption to the game.

Now in his 10th season with the Ratz, 28, Jake Maurirere has played almost 150 first grade games for the club, but the hunger remains. One particular ambition remains unfulfilled.

“I started with the Ratz in 2009 and we have not won a premiership since the Lower M.N.C. competition was rebooted in 2004. It’s about time we won one,” he said.

The Ratz have this weekend off due to their bye and all interest will centre on Nabiac where the Wallamba Bulls meet the Dolphins tomorrow. The Gloucester Cockies are at home to the Old Bar Clams, the former desperate to redeem themselves after forfeiting last weekend’s match to the Dolphins.