Blue’s brothers having fun

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This article was published 18/08/2021 (1517 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Brothers, best friends, and now, finally, Nick and Noah Hallett can say they’re teammates.

For the first time in their lives, the defensive backs from London, Ont., are playing for the same team.

It just happens to be at the professional level with the Winnipeg Blue Bombers.

It all started at the 2019 CFL Draft when the Blue and Gold got a steal in the seventh round when they selected Nick out of the University of Toronto and he went on to shine on special teams and appear in 18 regular season games as a rookie. In the 2020 draft, the Bombers used the 18th overall selection on another member of the Hallett household, as they went with Nick’s younger brother Noah, who played university ball at McMaster

“I like to think they like what they saw in me and that’s why they went out and got him,” Nick, 27, said after Wednesday’s practice at IG Field with a smile.

Well, if the team likes Nick, they’ll certainly like 23-year-old Noah because they’re very similar.

“I think their biggest challenge is they get called each other’s name constantly,” head coach Mike O’Shea said.

“They get asked ‘Which one are you?’ over and over again… I’m just waiting for them to switch jerseys and for nobody to notice.”

The reason for that isn’t solely because of their similar physical appearance, though. The brothers, who are the first siblings to suit up for the Bombers at the same time since Henoc and Cauchy Muamba did it in 2013, also aren’t the only ones who realize how unique it is to play together in the CFL.

“The game just doesn’t work out in a way where you can get two brothers, close in age, on the same team, going through the same experience, at the same time. Having them in the meetings, they’re almost clones of each other, as far as their capabilities, the way they communicate, their level of talent,” said defensive backs coach Jordan Younger.

“It’s a unique experience and as a coach, when I get a moment to breathe and just kind of sit back and look at it, it’s pretty special. I try to be in the moment and kind of take it in with them.”

Noah got a chance to meet everyone in the organization before he was drafted as he was in Calgary for the 2019 Grey Cup, proudly wearing his brother Nick’s No. 21 jersey in the stands. After the game, Noah was in the locker room celebrated with the team. Little did he know, a year and a half later, he’d have his own stall in the Bombers locker room featuring his No. 23 uniform.

“Being there with Nick and the team, it’s kind of cool, they already made me feel like I was a part of the team,” Noah said.

“Afterward when I went out and celebrated with them, all the guys were really welcoming and nice so it’s kind of fitting that I got picked up here.”

They went to different high schools when they were growing up, but they could’ve played together in university had Noah decided to follow in Nick’s footsteps and head to the U of T. Noah had his reasons for taking a different route.

“McMaster stole him away,” Nick said.

Noah jumped in: “Yeah, I wanted to get some wins, and that Yates Cup, which I got,” he laughed.

Now that they’re on the same side, they’re loving it, even if that means they’re competing against each other for the backup safety spot behind Brandon Alexander.

“I wouldn’t change this experience for anything. It’s definitely a little different though competing against my brother for the same spot. He’ll make a play that’s better than me and I don’t know whether to be happy or mad,” said Nick, who had 13 special teams tackles in 2019.

“But it’s definitely a fun time.”

For now, they’re getting the job done on special teams. Through two games, Nick has three special teams tackles and Noah has a pair. They’ll have the opportunity to grow their tackle totals on Saturday on the road in Toronto against the Argos where they currently have roughly 30 tickets set aside for family and friends. It’s the second time their loved ones will be able to watch the Hallett brothers on the same field, as they did face each other once in university.

“This is the first time they can cheer for one team all as a unit. They love football, they love watching us. We’ve gotten our grandparents into football now,” Nick said.

“It just brings us all together and we’re just fortunate to have a family that supports us like they do.”

The only tough choice the family has to make is deciding which jersey to wear.

“They’re splitting it up,” Noah said.

“I think a couple of them went with 21 on the front and 23 on the back. They’ll find a way.”

taylor.allen@freepress.mb.ca

Twitter: @TaylorAllen31