Gold Coast selection dogfights: 16 players whose stocks rose or fell in March 22 trials

Some of Gold Coast rugby’s most pressing selection dogfights are drawing to their conclusion, with contenders for key positions stamping their authority in weekend trials. See who is moving up and down.

Some of Gold Coast rugby’s most pressing selection dogfights are drawing to their conclusion, with contenders for key positions stamping their authority in weekend trials.

A surprise star from Palm Beach Currumbin’s comfortable trial win over Coomera was teenage fullback hopeful Declan Brown.

The PBC junior appears ready to make the club’s senior No.15 jersey his own after impressing with his counter-attack and left-footed kicking game.

Veteran utility Tama Voyce put forward a strong case to be the Alleygators starting hooker when Round 1 begins in a fortnight, backing up best-on-ground loose forward James Roberts capably.

“We tested our squad depth quite a lot and I was really happy with the lads who were sort of on the cusp,” PBC coach Jack Moon said.

“They stepped up and really put their name forward for selection.”

Griffith Uni Colleges Knights defeated an injury-depleted Gold Coast Eagles outfit 40-19, with the Eagles scoring a few tries late to earn some dignity back against one of the competition’s benchmarks.

Nerang defeated Wynnum 52-10.

Bulls coach Te Ari Mahuri said his side ventured to Brisbane with five goals to achieve and his group nailed all but one.

“The one we missed was keeping Wynnum to zero,” Mahuri said.

“Wynnum’s lineout was probably the best we’ve come up against in 12 months so that really tested us, but we started beating to a few jumps on their ball which is always a good win for our forwards.

“With a few boys away over the weekend we had to plug a few holes with a couple of young boys and they stepped up to the occasion and killed it.”

Helensvale defeated Casino 35-20 with several major outs in the backline and hot and steamy conditions.

BIG WINNERS FROM MARCH 23 TRIALS

DECLAN BROWN

Palm Beach Currumbin fullback

“Declan Brown was really comfortable on the ball,” coach Jack Moon said.

“He showed glimpses of his attacking ability. You definitely would have thought he’d been playing open-age rugby for a lot longer than the two games he’s played.

“To come into first grade and look really comfortable, I think he’s going to be one to watch in the future.”

Brown was a threat to counter-attack with every kick return and constantly found chinks in Coomera’s defensive line.

He went within a man of scoring but was cut down in a certain trysaver.

Brown’s left-footed kicking boot will also come in handy this season.

JAMES ROBERTS

Palm Beach Currumbin backrower

The Welshman was bruising in every collision and was a deserved recipient of player of the day honours.

Roberts proved he is simply too good to leave out of the side but which position can he exert the most influence on a match?

Although not a classical openside flanker, Roberts’ physicality makes him an intimidating figure as a breakaway bearing down on opposition playmakers.

TAMA VOYCE

Palm Beach Currumbin hooker

Tama Voyce offloads during the 2018 season. Photo by Richard Gosling

A Palm Beach junior product who has flirted with just about every position on the field over his years at the Alleygators.

In 2025 Voyce is gunning to make the starting hooker position his own.

“He threw well, defensively really strong. He put a strong case forward to earn that No.2 jersey,” coach Jack Moon said.

His primary competition is English teenager Luca Macy, six months out of secondary school.

ANARU HANSEN

Coomera lock

Hansen led from the front in Coomera’s first trial hit-out of the season, putting his hand up for carries and tackled well.

The recruit was an unknown quantity coming into the trial but coach Tiger Lama said Hansen had “definitely” won a starting position with his performance against PBC.

ZANE PARURU

Coomera prop

This was a rugby comeback to remember for ’Z’.

Out of the game for years, the prop returned to the fray for Coomera and was a dominant scrummager.

Perhaps the greater surprise was how fit Paruru was. He got around the field like a much smaller man and showed he had lost little of his instinct for the game.

“He had a really good set of skills on him,” Lama said.

“He could tip (pass) the ball, he knew when to carry and when to draw-and-pass. That’s pretty impressive when you see a big prop running like that.

“He’s not young, he’s probably in his early 30s, but he’s been out of the game for a while. He decided to have a jam this year and was really impressive. It’s like he never stopped playing and he didn’t look tired at all.”

LEON ELLIA

Coomera flyhalf

The Crushers captain controlled the game well, made strong tackles and was clinical in his decision-making.

Ellia was never missing out on selection but his stock has risen nonetheless.

TOM GREENHOUGH

Gold Coast Eagles openside flanker

Small in stature but plays well above his weight division.

The Englishman’s workrate and motor has impressed selectors and he has just about earned a position in the starting pack having started down the pecking order.

“He was in the fringes initially and the coaches had some question marks over him, but he’s super impressive,” Eagles coach Syd Malietoa said.

“He’s a specialist No.7. He’s one of the guys who just goes about his business.

“Tom Greenhough is definitely knocking on the door.”

CARLOS ERIHE

Gold Coast Eagles centre

A regular winger in the 2024 Eagles team who is fighting his way back from multiple injury setbacks.

Erihe’s attitude is the only thing coaches love more about him than his supreme backline versatility.

“If there’s any kid that’s showing perseverence and good attitude it’s that young fella,” coach Malietoa said.

“He’s a good kid as well. He’s all class, he can cover anywhere in the backs. When you tap him on the shoulder he is ready to go and he works hard.”

Erihe played the entire game in second grade and backed up to play the full match in first grade too, defending the critical outside centre channel.

“We’ve brought him in one spot this year because he’s so elusive,” Malietoa said.

“If we can get him those one-on-ones he’s a pretty handy player to have on the edge.”

EZRA TUITAPA-ISAAC

Griffith Uni Colleges lock

Ezra Tuitapa-Isaac playing for Nerang on 12 August 2023. Picture by Richard Gosling

The premiership-winning Nerang Bulls enforcer has jumped ship to the team Nerang beat in last year’s decider to form a heavyweight locking partnership with Colleges veteran Kerrod Martorella.

Tuitapa-Isaac’s linebending carries were a clear highlight against the Eagles though he played in No.8, in the absence of injured captain Jaye Paton and his back-up Devontay To’a.

“He brings a bit of fear (for those) in defence,” Colleges seniors coordinator Josh Scott said.

“We’re pretty lucky to have him. He’s going to be a massive acquisition for the club.”

If there was any doubt about how Colleges would fit Tuitapa-Isaac into their pack, it was settled by fulltime.

Good luck shoving Colleges off their own ball at scrumtime with two of the most powerful locks in the district anchoring the set piece.

JAMES MUNRO

Griffith Uni Colleges centre

This is a club rugby fairytale. James Munro has rocketed into contention to partner Callum Burgess-Boomer in the Colleges centres having worked his way up from third grade.

Munro’s rugby odyssey has taken time but his loyalty to the Knights is about to be rewarded.

“He’s been on the fringes for a while, just waiting for his opportunity” Scott said.

“He played a couple of games last year in first grade but I think he’s definitely a bolter to take up that centre position.

“He’s worked his way up through the grades and was a standout in the trial Saturday. He’s definitely put his hat in the ring, for sure.”

TYSON NEWTON

Griffith Uni Colleges halfback

Mirroring Munro’s rags to riches progression through the grades is ‘Bulldog’ Newton.

The youngster was thrust into the limelight through the unavailability of regular No.9 Max Dempsey and has turned the position into one of the most hotly contested at Heeb Street.

Newton took his chance with both hands and will give coach Shaun Cole serious food for thought about who best will dictate the tempo of the Knights’ attack from the ruckbase.

VAYDAH MATCHITT

Helensvale outside back

The Hogs travelled to Casino to play the Far North Coast competition’s Bulls without four starting members of the backline.

With no Keahn Tipu, Conor McEldowney, Ezekiel Stewart or Lukas Halls there were chances aplenty for Round 1 bolters to press their cases.

No player took greater advantage than Vaydah Matchitt.

The 19-year-old whippet on the wing ran the ball well and scored a couple of tries as reward for his work on a sweltering hot day.

NOAH FIELDING

Helensvale centre

The Helensvale junior has returned to his home club having filled out considerably since he departed for Surfers Paradise a few seasons ago.

The ex-Brisbane Boys’ College First XV speedster was once a stick figure winger but was effective at outside centre against Casino.

With a supporting cast around him with Mitre 10 Cup and Shute Shield experience, Fielding is shaping as another headache opponents will be dreading at Rugby Lane in 2025.

XANDER BARNARD

Helensvale flyhalf

Plucked off the bench and launched into the fray at No.10 after an injury inside five minutes of the trial wiped out Helensvale’s starter.

Barnard’s booming kicking game got the Hogs out of several tight situations and kept the battle for field position in Helensvale’s favour.

Barnard showed the Hogs have plenty of depth at one of rugby’s most cerebral positions.

RYAN FRAMPTON

Nerang halfback

Finding a player to partner Jarrod Nyssen as a 9-10 combination could either be the simplest job in Gold Coast rugby or the hardest.

Maiz George was Nerang’s rookie of the year and perhaps the toughest tackling No.9 on the Gold Coast.

Then along came Ryan Frampton, a Kiwi from Crusaders country by way of Brothers Rugby Club in Brisbane.

Frampton started at No.9 against Riverside Rebels last week, while George started against Wynnum and Souths..

Is he too good for second grade? Is Frampton? Or will coach Te Ari Mahuri be forced to reshuffle a grand final winning backline to accomodate both super talents.

JAMES WAIRAU

Nerang lock

Lose a monster lock (Ezra Tuitapa-Isaac, Knights), gain one in James Wairau.

The Kiwi import via the Sunshine Coast is going to be one of the recruits of the season.

He was among Nerang’s brightest against Wynnum Bugs, as he was against Souths in the first trial of the season one month ago.

Will be tough to miss.

Originally published as Gold Coast selection dogfights: 16 players whose stocks rose or fell in March 22 trials