GPS First XV rugby’s round 5 top 22 players
Who were the leading players from round 5 of GPS First XV rugby? Here we name 22 of the best in what shapes as the closest premiership race in seasons.
Sport
Don't miss out on the headlines from Sport. Followed categories will be added to My News.
Three try hero Will Rogers was straight onto our list of Players of the Round as the most intriguing GPS First XV rugby season in years continues to unfold.
How often does a rugby hooker score three tries? About as often as a meteor streaks across the sky.
But Rogers has achieved the milestone not once, but twice as Nudgee’s well oiled forward machine mauled its way to a come-from-behind win over Brisbane Grammar School.
Aside from Rogers, who else are our players of round 5?
Liam Le Blanc (Nudgee College)
Le Blanc is having a huge season from No. 8, with telling defence and aggressive running. He really is a leader of the pack.
RELATED LINKS
GPS RUGBY: ROUND 5 REPORT HERE
GPS ROUND 4, 20 PLAYERS OF THE ROUND
ROUND 4 REPORT - INCLUDING BSHS’S MILESTONE MATCH WIN
Ned Madden and Ben Mooney (Brisbane Grammar School)
Brisbane Grammar School continued its excellent season despite Nudgee coming home over the top of the side last weekend. Halfback Madden and fullback Mooney were on the BGS steering committee, taking their side from point to point until things started to unravel with a man lost to a yellow card, and as the mighty Nudgee pack ramped up its rolling maul attack.
Caleb Laifoo (TSS)
The Southport School unleashed its skills, handling, support play and ball running despite the wet conditions, and it was in part thanks to the mighty effort of prop Laifoo who earned the right for his team to play its expansive game.
Jye Gray and Nick Hilton (TSS)
The Southport School is fortunate to have such two esteemed leaders, but skilful in their positions, but also leaders of the pack. They were at their best in all departments against BBC.
Fraser Cowan (TSS)
Speaking about players being at the peak of their powers, Cowan was elite from No. 9 for TSS. In slippery conditions his sure handling and option taking haunted the BBC defenders.
Daniel Malum (BBC)
Brisbane Boys College has a young side in 2022, with two-thirds of the side playing in the First XV from year 11. Fullback Malum is one of those boys. A lower age group star, he is finding his way in the rough and tumble of First XV rugby but won the battle at the weekend with arguably his most complete performance of the season.
RELATED LINKS
ROUND 4 TEAMS, TERRACE SKIPPER FEATURED HERE
Wihan Kruger (Toowoomba Grammar)
Kruger earns his spot on the list with his kicking game alone. Not often in schoolboy footy do you see aerial, cross field, grubber and long distance kicks not only according to plan, but also pay dividends.
Although Chase Oates took the shots at goal. Kruger was the in-game kicking guru.
Jeremiah Sialau (Toowoomba Grammar)
Hooker Jeremiah Sialau was a standout. His size and power allowed him to advance Toowoomba past the advantage line whenever tasked with a carry.
Aside from his hand in the lineout, scrum and pick and drive sequence which led to a timely try by Matt Price with 15 minutes left, Sialau’s rolling maul masterclass to close out the first half was everything and more.
Bud Smith (Toowoomba Grammar)
Smith was a revelation on Saturday. He was dominant in every meaning of the word. Strong carries into contact highlighted his faultless performance at inside centre.
Dre Pakeho (Churchie)
We all know Pakeho is threatening with ball in hand. But perhaps his most underrated asset is his kicking.
When kicking for touch, he advanced Churchie to the other end of the field. With penalty kicks and exits from his team’s 22, Pakeho came up big.
Will Herbert (Churchie)
His kicking — superb. Returning the ball from fullback — even better.
Herbert not only scored the match winning try, but he executed the little things which helped steer Churchie home.
He has plenty of pace, which came in very handy for his side, as he was able to beat his defender and storm away for a clutch go-ahead try in the 66th minute.
Richard Dean (Toowoomba Grammar)
Dean was nifty at the back for Toowoomba. A couple of times he snuck under his defenders and made extra metres. That’s one way the small No. 15 went about his business.
His main mode of destruction was his speed and his step. The latter was very impressive.
Dean compliments the Toowoomba backline so well. With his injections into offence and also his strong connection with the likes of Chase Oates and Wihan Kruger, Dean makes his presence known.
Benjamin Pula-Fatu, Aryton Holmes and Jared Beazley (Ipswich Grammar School)
In heavy conditions the front row trio drove IGS toward the winners post, relishing the wet with power running, sure handling and strong scrumming. One days like last Saturday, the road to victory is generated around the students wearing the No. 1, No. 2 and No. 3 jumpers and the boys all did well.
Kohen Biggs and Jack Hocking (IGS)
Both boys can attack, don’t worry, but it was their kicking games which was instrumental in IGS winning the territory battle for the opening two-thirds of the match, generating a pathway to victory.
Stanley Huen (IGS)
Huen was outstanding, a steadying influence with the ball, whether it be straightening the attack with crash ball, or moving possession on when in the right part of the field. His defence also stifled BSHS’s dangerous inside backs.
Ned Kendell (IGS)
The big fella rolled his sleeves up and got rumbling in the damp against BSHS, and he even mustered a covering tackle on one of BSHS’ dangerous backs.
Tuave Leofa (BSHS)
Leofa did not enjoy the freedom – or the conditions – which saw him flourish a week earlier, but he was still his team’s most dangerous player who was at his best in the last quarter of the game after the BSHS bench added energy and freshness to the squad.
ROUND 6
GT v IGS
TGS v BBC
NC v BSHS
BGS v TSS
REPLAYS: Palmy lads towel up Keebra Park, Langer Trophy
A committed Palm Beach Currumbin has taken down Keebra Park in emphatic style despite the latter sitting higher on the Langer Trophy table. Watch the full REPLAY and Walters Cup.
Vote now: Will someone break the 100 goal mark in AFL Queensland Comps?
We are in the back half of the footy season in Queensland’s state and suburban AFL competitions with a number of big forwards kicking massive bags to start the year and chasing the 100 goal mark. Do you think someone will crack the 100? Vote inside >>>