Expect fitting pre-game fanfare at the Easts-Brothers lift-off to the club season for one of rugby’s finest Tigers, yet don’t imagine the accolade carrying any weight in corners of his own household.

“Dad, I thought you had to be famous to have a field named after you,” was 11-year-old son Harry’s wisecrack this week when Wilson’s Sydney-Brisbane trip loomed for the grand unveiling.

Young Harry wasn’t around when his dad was a non-stop flanker spilling blood in that 1999 World Cup final triumph when the French took to his chin with a boot or any of his 105 games for Queensland.

Now 45 and with a Tony Shaw hairstyle, Wilson recounted yesterday just how much Bottomley Park and his time at the den meant to him.

“Bottomley Park was home base for 23 years. I played all my juniors there, it’s where we celebrated a Colts premiership, I started in A grade there and the Tigers were still my club when I was away with the Wallabies,” Wilson said.

“I still remember swinging and climbing over those rafters in the clubhouse like just about every young player who has come through Easts and the all-nighter after the Colts grand final.

“It’s a great honour to be recognised this way.”

Wilson was also a two-time Rothmans Medal winner (1989 and 1991) for his resonant club performances.

He still takes a keen interest in rugby. He is more at ease that there are back-ups for David Pocock in his old position than he was when the Wallabies were exposed without one at last year’s Rugby World Cup.

“Beau Robinson was unlucky not to be in the original Wallaby squad for the World Cup,” Wilson said.

“Liam Gill is a lighter player and a true ball scavenger.

“He’s fit and young and will only get better.

“Michael Hooper, at the Brumbies, is being mentioned a lot so he must be making improvements too.”

Like every player of his generation, Wilson is heartened to hear that former Wallaby teammate Michael Lynagh, while still in hospital under observation, is stable and alert after his recent stroke.