GPS First XV rugby: Round 2 team of the week named
GPS First XV rugby: The latest team of the week features a BSHS carbon copy of Trent Picot, a Fantastic Five from BBC, outstanding IGS forwards and Terrace’s Mr Reliables. More here.
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Backrow positions in the latest GPS First XV rugby team of the week were hotly contested after some of Queensland’s finest breakaways brought their best to round 2 of the season.
Henry Willis and Robert Piutau were outstanding for BSHS, against equally impressive opposition in IGS backrowers Tom Smith and Lane Edmonds.
On the other side of town, Duke Thallon (two tries) fired for Churchie against trusted 9/10 performer Lincoln Dalton, Brisbane Grammar’s top-gun openside.
Not even the 20-19 scoreline by IGS over BSHS could keep Willis from snaring the No. 7 jumper this week as Nudgee College plots its Ross Oval return against IGS in a round 3 blockbuster.
Willis, a promising Year 11 student who set an outstanding tone on defence, was a man possessed in a weekend that also saw BBC, Churchie and TGS win in atrocious conditions.
Willis ran the ball often and topped the tackle count (20) to show why he is going to be a vital piece of the BSHS rugby program moving into the future.
Recognised as a carbon copy of 2024 team of the season flanker Trent Picot, Willis has quickly won the hearts of supporters and teammates alike with his leadership and intensity.
“He was willing the boys on, saying to ‘get off the ground, next job’,” BSHS coach Steve Kefu said, reminiscing on Willis’ titanic performance.
It caught Kefu by pleasant surprise because it is rare to see younger members of First XV rugby squads rally the team and use their voice to light the fire from beneath.
Willis did this on the regular during Saturday’s game but one moment stood out more than others.
Willis rushed up in the line, like he’d been shot out of a cannon, to meet big-bodied IGS lock Mostyn Bowen with a thumping tackle.
“It was just so good to see from a Year 11 kid,” Kefu said of BSHS’ leading tackler thus far (44).
“He was phenomenal.”
Second-year coach Kefu said despite the team losing both games so far, the lessons his troops are learning are most valuable after BSHS last year were knocked off by Nudgee College in an unofficial grand final that fell in round 9.
“The first year, when you build a program, it tends to be successful,” he said.
“The second year is always the hardest.
“It’s been really good. The lesson for the boys is just to make sure we give it to every opposition and make sure we keep showing up not fading off.”
That’s not always as easy as it sounds across a long season.
TGS have got off to a fly start while BBC also got out of the blocks in round 2 with a tense win over Gregory Terrace.
Read on to see who made a big difference.
GPS RUGBY ROUND 2 TEAM OF THE WEEK
15. James Smith (TSS)
Smith was great in challenging conditions, kicking well and passing astutely on a day when judgement mattered.
He was also safe under the high ball and was excellent in defence.
The Year 10 fullback has got off to a stellar start in his debut season.
14. Cooper Murray (BBC)
Murray has been magnificent in his first two matches in the First XV.
He has scored tries in both games and on Saturday was busy as ever on the left wing.
His wing twin Ryder Koia also scored two tries and together, the pair had the finesse and speed to ensure pristine execution when opportunities arose.
13. Tai Taka (BBC)
With limited chances, Taka was the most dangerous outside back on the field.
He effortlessly put his winger Ryder Koia away for a vital try, and around his attack was unyielding in defence that blocked off an avenue of attack for Terrace.
His encouragement of teammates and leadership has also been clear as day when BBC concede points or are thrust onto the back foot.
12. Trey Pritchard (Churchie)
Pritchard’s leaping ability was a bit of a cheat code for Churchie on Saturday.
To Brisbane Grammar’s credit, they were so defiant that when Pritchard did reel in a high kick, the visitors could not turn the field position into points.
Equally impressive as Pritchard’s ability in the air was his knack for making post contact metres and keeping his legs pumping to inch closer and closer to the BGS try line.
He’s always a danger, now even more so in defence.
11. Hemi Rakuita (IGS)
It’s amazing what a year can do.
Last season the smooth-moving Rakuita was a Year 10 student on the fringes of earning a starting role in the IGS team. Fast forward to now, with a Reds Under-16s season under his belt, Rakuita is relishing a key role and thriving.
Rakuita, in the cold and wet, made just one mistake and whenever he got the ball he looked dangerous enough to shed the first tackle and from there anything can happen.
He has wheels.
10. Toby Kennedy (BBC)
Tactical kicking was the ants pants in last Saturday’s big wet, and BBC could not have been in better hands with Kennedy at No. 10.
His kicking alongside halfback Harry Munro played a huge role in tilting the game in the direction of BBC.
Sometimes in rugby it is great seeing a No. 10 kick the leather off the ball, and in the prevailing conditions, Kennedy did it well.
9. Harry Munro (BBC)
While it was very unfortunate to see Isaac Kefu ruled out for the season with an ACL injury, it has opened the door for new scrumhalf Munro to step in and step up.
He has just done that and Saturday’s test in the wet was a great indication of his ability.
His service to Kennedy was A1 and his box kicking also grand.
Munro’s superb 50m touch finder with no angle to work with presented his side with field position that led to a crucial second half try when Terrace were closing on in.
8. Gray O’Neill (BBC)
Was there a better player on the field?
Come line out time it was like O’Neill had plastered his hands with super grip, so effortlessly did he haul in pinpoint throws from hooker Luke Nilsson.
O’Neill also drove forward on numerous occasions with the ball — including when he stole possession from a wriggling Terrace maul and ploughed 10m upfield through the teeth of the Terrace pack.
In a desperately close game he also kicked two conversions from the sideline.
7. Henry Willis (BSHS)
Willis has been willing and able in the infancy of the season, showing why BSHS are in safe hands this year and next.
A year 11 student who is showing his leadership qualities, Willis invokes memories of 2023 and 2024 BSHS flanker Picot the way he gets himself involved. Picot is currently enjoying a stellar Colts 1 campaign.
Willis is leading the tackle count for BSHS over the first fortnight and, after making 24 tackles against Nudgee College, he made another 20 to go along with more than 10 carries against IGS.
6. Duke Thallon (Churchie)
Try-scoring opportunities were hard to come by at Northgate after the worrying weather delayed kick off.
Eventually when it was time to rumble, Thallon looked like he had trained and played in wet-weather parklands his whole life with his lineout throwing and rolling maul precision a highlight.
Thallon scored both of Churchie’s tries, feeding off the momentum of his forwards before choosing his time to detach and score.
The blonde-haired young gun has been a great find for Churchie with his unique skill complementing an unrivalled defensive intensity that has produced 45 tackles in two games.
5. Mostyn Bowen (IGS)
No one-man party could have handled the heat of the BSHS pack on Saturday. Bowen had help and plenty of it.
He was, however, one of the standouts.
With Tom Smith stealing lineout ball and Lane Edmonds working feverishly around the breakdown, Bowen brought the midfield punch that set a great platform.
He is a big boy and 70 minutes of hard yakka in the wet is not easy. He played his part to perfection and bringing Bowen down was a two-man job.
4. Luke Thornton (BSHS)
If work horse was a player Thornton would be him.
Tireless and tenacious, Thornton has worked his backside off through the first two rounds and been in everything.
His tackles, ruck arrivals and lineout work has seen him skyrocket to the top of the team stats charts.
There aren’t many second rowers attacking the breakdown with as much ferocity and as frequent as Thornton.
He gives the impression no workload is too much.
3. Harrison Humphreys (TGS)
The TGS prop was enormous on a day of days for his side.
In driving rain against an imposing pack on a Village Green track that was anything but an enchanting paradise, Humphreys took on TSS at scrum time and mauled his way through a fiercely contested battle.
2. Caleb West (IGS)
West and his front-row combatants were full of energy and heart. The trio, featuring West, Tyler Riddell and Lance Po-Ching, also possess plenty of skill.
West’s skill was seen best when he created a Marlon Frost try with a great catch, surprising speed and a perfectly timed pass to lure in the last line of defence.
West was responsible for another telling play when he met his rival with enough intensity to force the ball out and cause a turnover. It came in the 63rd minute when IGS led 20-12 but were on the back foot and in their red zone.
1. Jerry Harbottle (Terrace)
Harbottle was the cornerstone of a well-performing scrum on a day where precision in either of the set pieces was essential.
He was the key figure disrupting BBC’s scrum and forcing an error behind an under pressure BBC scrum which led to a try by Terrace flyhalf Tom Weir.
The big bloke also trundled forward in the ball on occasions.
RESERVES
Jed Siganto (BGS)
Siganto should be very pleased with his re-entry to First XV level.
Jed, the younger brother of Tom who played centre last year, played bits and pieces at hooker in 2024 and has jumped up a class in 2025.
His breakdown steal as a loosehead prop was the proof and his scrummaging was reliable on a slippery surface.
Kingsley Uys (TSS)
The Southport School captain led by example with his thunderous charges that threatened to splinter the TGS defensive line every time he went at them.
He was arguably the most dangerous player on the field, with his size, strength and mobility a nightmare to handle.
Myles Rosemond (TGS)
The Toowoomba Grammar fullback was supposed to have his running game curtailed by the heavy conditions, but someone forget to tell Rosemond.
His blinding burst set up a crucial second half try.
Under pressure from the TSS kicking game, Rosemond also stood up retrieving tactical kicks.
Lincoln Dalton (BGS)
Dalton is one of a kind in that he is just as good at rugby as he is at rugby league.
It’s a hard feat given how impressive he was earlier this year as the Norths Devils Connell Cup captain.
But Dalton does everything at 100 per cent and he gave his all for the cause in round 1. His effort was best seen on two occasions when he came from nowhere and won penalties pilfering the ball.
Both times BGS had their back against the wall and Churchie were eager to put the game to bed.
Oliver Nasser (Terrace)
For the second successive week No. 8 Nasser makes the side.
Nasser was a tower of strength with his carries, and in defence he led Terrace’s spirited line that was under pressure in more ways than one.
In union with halfback George Hales, Nasser helped prevent what looked a certain BBC pick and drive try.
Charlie Hollyman (Terrace)
Hollyman was strong in the scrum and a force lurking around rolling mauls.
He was involved in one of two trick shot plays from lineouts as well, but his contribution at scrum time and in rolling maul combat was where he earned his brownie points.
Rhymen Tusi (TGS)
Tusi was a powerhouse with the ball and a goal kicking ace. His sharp shooting proved the difference in the 33-31 scorelines.
The big bloke’s tap and go try during the second half was vital, and around the field his forceful carries took a power of stopping.
He has started the season like a ferocious freight-train adamant on transporting the TGS squad to the GPS premiership trophy.
Darnel Taki (BSHS)
Taki has shown plenty in his first two games at this level.
Taki, a tighthead prop with great hands, took nine carries and scrummed IGS to the brink of a crisis. Cyrus Suniala and Tristan Auelua also had their say on that front.
Taki also made a notable breakdown turnover 50 minutes into the game when Ipswich led 20-12 and were closing in on nailing the coffin shut in the BSHS red zone.
James Tulikaki (TGS)
The Year 10 Auckland enforcer entered the fray unheralded and came off, 30 minutes later, the hero to all and sundry associated with the TGS community.
The old adage of a good big man will always beat a good little man was never more accurate than when Tulikaki got to work with his close to the line ball running.
His two tries were a big piece in the jig-saw puzzle that enabled TGS to secure a stunning away win on a wet, sodden Village Green turf.
George Hales (Terrace)
Although he missed two conversion attempts he would have liked to have nailed, Hales’ general play was excellent in the conditions.
He found effective kicks, he hustled and bustled around the field, and organised his forwards who intensely challenged BBC across the entire game.
It was a quality performance in the rain.
Robert Piutau (BSHS)
BSHS blindside flanker Robert Piutau is a chip off the old block.
His father Robby was rugged and fearless in his days as a BSHS First XV forward and Robert has the same tendencies to throw himself in front of anything and make tackles for fun.
Piutau was responsible for 16 tackles on Saturday and was busy in attack, running and unloading a quick pass to his supporting teammates.
Angus Underwood (Churchie)
Genuine rugby IQ and smarts is somewhat of a hot commodity these days and fullback Underwood has a smattering of it.
His decision making from the back field was perfect on a day where BGS kicked the house down and his goal kicking yielded nine points (three penalties).
Ben Walker (TGS)
Playing lock, Ben Walker’s collection of possession in greasy line out conditions and h it s leg drive around the park were a vital piece in the jigsaw puzzle that saw TGS pull off a stunning hit and run away victory.
The big bloke also out his shoulder to the wheelhouse in defence.
Special mentions: Jacob Knowles (Churchie), Liam Gordon (Churchie), Jack Brown (TGS), Rupert McGrath (Terrace), Franck Iraguha (Terrace), Ranel Filipine (IGS), Edmonds and Smith (IGS), Riddell and Po-Ching (IGS),
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