Out for vengeance: How Qld Country Heelers can hoist the ASR title in 2024
Queensland Country Heelers head coach Brad Tronc has revealed his tournament aims and star players to watch as he prepares to lift the 2024 Australian Rugby Shield on home soil.
Sunshine Coast
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The Queensland Country Heelers will be out for vengeance at the 2024 Australian Rugby Shield and head coach Brad Tronc has a number of tricks up his sleeves playing on home soil.
The ARS is the country’s top amateur prize with state and regional representative sides battling it out at Caloundra Rugby Union Club on the Sunshine Coast from October 2-6.
Founded in 2000, the purpose of the tournament is to identify and provide strong representative pathways for players outside of traditional rugby union strongholds such as Brisbane and Sydney.
The 2024 Men’s competition will be contested by QLD Country Heelers, NSW Country Cockatoos, TAS Jack Jumpers, SA Black Falcons, Queensland Suburban (aka Subbies) and an Australian Defence Force side.
On the other side of the draw, the women’s tournament will feature ACT & SNSW Kestrels, QLD Country Orchids, NSW Country Corellas, SA Black Falcons, Queensland Suburban (aka Kelpies) and an Australian Defence Force side.
Queensland Country Heelers and USC Barbadians head coach Brad Tronc said being named as head coach was a surreal feeling.
“I’ve still got the tie I was awarded when I made my Queensland Country debut in 2005 and then I went on to captain the team later on so it’s a real honour to now be the head coach,” he said.
Tronc served as an assistant coach in 2023 where the Heelers finished third.
“We had a really good campaign last year and there’s still a good contingent of core players with us again,” he said.
“We have lost some experience but at the same time it’s really exciting for those younger or new players to come in and make a name for themselves.
“The expectation for us would be to play in the final this year, especially at home, battling it out for silverware would be unbelievable.
“I think if you’re not going into these competitions to win it you probably shouldn’t be there so we’d like to think if we can get things moving that we’re a fair shot.”
The Heelers 28 man squad consists of 11 Sunshine Coast players, nine of which played in the 2024 A-Grade grand final.
Tronc said the plethora of local talents named in the squad is a key reflection of how strong the local Sunshine Coast competition is, a statement echoed by Sunshine Coast Rugby Union general manager Mike Aronsten.
“We’ve got big plans for rugby in the region and want a big facility over the next few years. Our Friday night competition has grown from four to eight teams this year and we’re putting a lot of effort into growing the women’s game too,” Aronsten told rugby.com.au.
With the region already hosting the under-20s The Rugby Championship and the Australian Schools Rugby Championships earlier this year, Aronsten said he was excited for the coming days.
“We’ve hosted the South Queensland championship for the past two years and this year’s TRC U20s which we had great support for but hosting the ARS is fantastic,” he said.
“It’s been a while since we’ve hosted Super Rugby teams but we’ve got great facilities on the Sunshine Coast and great people leading the way.
“I’ve been here since 2015 and we had a Super Rugby game here back in 2022 but we’re a special rugby community and it’s exciting to be hosting the ARS.”
“Caloundra’s a great facility and there’s a fair few local players in the mix for Queensland Country so if you’ve got the time, I’d encourage those living nearby to come down and check it out.”
Tronc said he was eager to see what his side could produce.
“From last year's campaign there’s guys that we’ll be leaning on again like Luke Kimber (USC Barbarians) and Tai Ford (Surfers Paradise Dolphins) who are both great back rowers,” he said.
“A Gold Coast lad in Ezekiel Stewart (Helensvale Hogs) who was our number two halfback last year but is really pushing for that nine jersey as an exciting young player.
“Another player from Central Queensland in Darcy McKenzie (Dawson Valley Drovers) who is a fly half and looks a bit like Tom Dearden from the Cowboys.
“He’s trained hard through the remote sessions, comes from a cattle farm and is keen to showcase his skills while also experiencing that step up of representative footy.”
Heelers 2024 Squad
Jacob Pinkney - USC Barbarians
Isaac Talbot - Maroochydore Swans
Jon Salee - North Ward Old Boys
Lesi Tawake - Colleges Knights
Pala Mailangi - Noosa Dolphins
Will Wigan - Toowoomba Rangers
Lachie Currie - Dalby Wheatmen
Levi Shaw - Noosa Dolphins
Jock Hansson - Noosa Dolphins
James Stanley - North Ward Old Boys
Dane Mason - Helensvale Hogs
Sam Curran - Roma Echidnas
Andy Smyth - Burdekin Toads
Luke Kimber - USC Barbarians
Sam Laffy - Dalby Wheatmen
Tai Ford - Surfers Paradise Dolphins
Ezekiel Stewart - Helensvale Hogs
Levi Wairau - USC Barbarians
Darcy McKenzie - Dawson Valley Drovers
Trent Davison - Dalby Wheatmen
Colby Mason - USC Barbarians
Viliame Nabole - Colts Rockhampton
Gideon Kautai - Noosa Dolphins
Nick Louhghnan - Roma Echidnas
Shayden Stevens - USC Barbarians
Will Johnston - Dalby Wheatmen
Save Ronavusa - Caloundra Lighthouse
Landry Bezombes - Whitsunday Raiders
Players originally selected but were forced to withdraw due to injury, work, cost or personal matters:
Curtis Rayment - Toowoomba Rangers
Junior Maninoa - Moranbah Bulls
Kegan Tuhega - Caboolture Snakes
Patrick Barlow - Surfers Paradise Dolphins
Samuela Kupa-Tinielu - Northern Beaches Mudcrabs
Will Christie - Noosa Dolphins
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