The sharp eye of Moranbah Miners captain-coach Josh Hannay could be the reason the central Queensland club defend its title in Mackay at the weekend and add another premiership to the famous Lockyer trophy cabinet.

A chance sighting of Darren Lockyer’s talented brother Matt Lockyer on the hill at the Miners home ground early in the season, has played a big hand in the club reaching Sunday’s grand final against minor premiers and favourites Souths Sharks.

“I remember we ran out onto our home ground facing the hill and I spotted this guy having a beer and thought `that’s Matt Lockyer’,” Hannay, a prolific point-scoring centre for North Queensland told AAP this week.

Hannay couldn’t help himself, approaching the younger brother of the Brisbane, Queensland and Australian great to see if he was interested in pulling on the boots for Moranbah.

Lockyer played Queensland Cup for both Souths and Easts and even had a stint with the Yeronga Devils in the QAFL a few years ago.

“Matt is a lot like Darren, pretty unassuming, but I put a bit of pressure on him to pull the boots back on,” Hannay said.

“He’s a great five-eighth like his brother and he’s a big reason why we’re in the grand final.

“He has the same skills set as Darren and he can kick the football a mile.”

Sunday might be a tricky day though for the Lockyer family.

Matt’s sister-in-law – Darren’s wife Loren – has family connections with the Souths Sharks.

“She might cheer for the Sharks but if Darren gets out to the the game we’d be hoping he is cheering for his brother’s team,” said Hannay.

When Hannay, 32, isn’t kicking a football around, he drives massive 200-tonne trucks in the mines.

“Sunday will be the end for me,” added the former Cowboy star, the youngest player to debut in the NRL.

“A win would be a pretty nice way to go out.”