Sunshine Coast Rugby Union top recruits and debutants of 2022
As the halfway point of the Sunshine Coast rugby union season approaches, the competition's senior men’s and women’s coaches have named their standout recruits and debutants.
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Fresh faces of the men’s and women’s Sunshine Coast rugby union competitions have made their mark following the opening nine rounds of the season.
Despite the recent run of poor weather, the region’s coaches, players and fans have quickly established which new players will be key to their team’s chances in 2022.
See who the coaches named as their leading recruits and debutants so far this season.
All coaches were approached for comment before the time of publishing.
University Barbarians
Men’s head coach Brad Tronc said he was content with how his undefeated team started the season but said there were still areas of their game they could improve on.
“It’s been a disjointed season so far and it feels like we haven’t been able to hold any real playing consistency or continuity,” Tronc said.
“We have had a number of weeks without back to back sessions and there were three weeks in a row where we had no trainings away from the field.
“It has been a little bit tough and then even though we’re undefeated we feel like we haven’t played our best footy yet and still have room to improve.”
The 2021 premiers are set to travel to Caloundra in round 10 for a top of the table clash.
“It’s going to be a bit of a funny week as we have some boys in New Zealand for some personal commitments, some players backing up after the Stingrays carnival and a few key injuries within our squad as well,” Tronc said.
“There’s plenty of teams on our tail and Caloundra is definitely one of them that want our scalp so it will be a true test for us this weekend.”
Leone Cama
“He’s a Fijian boy that is a very skilful outside back for us and had his best game to date against Noosa in our most recent match,” Tronc said.
“We didn’t have to recruit a great deal as we just tried to build within the club and so Cama is one that came to us and is slotting in really well.”
Maroochydore Swans
Men’s head coach Ben Radmall said he knew his team could improve after their start to the season with five wins and two losses.
“The team is going well, we have only dropped two games and feel we can be more than just competitive with the top teams,” he said.
“This weekend’s match, the JC cup at Noosa, will be a real test of where we’re at.
“The players are excited for this challenge and it’s an opportunity for some players to cement their starting positions.”
Mack Naylor
“Mack is our seven and has been a standout this year in the games he has played,” Radmall said.
“He’s returned from the Brisbane premier comp and prior to that he was the Sunshine Coast Grammar 1st XV captain.”
Harry Masters
“Harry plays as a nine or ten for us and has brought great energy and a high level of skill to our backline this year, having previously played higher levels over seas,” Radmall said
Gorgio Phillips
“Gorgio is a solid utility player for us and has a great attitude and is a great team man,” Radmall said.
“He’s a highly skilled ballplayer with a damaging running game and would be a great addition to any club.”
Women’s head coach Andrew Block said his team of fresh faces were performing well above their weight this season.
“We had a high turnover of players from last season so we added in a lot of new players that have never played before and really started back at square one,” Block said.
“It’s been a quick progression for us as a playing group and we’re aiming for a top four finish with anything more than that a bonus.”
The Swans sit with two wins, two draws and one loss for the season and will play Noosa in round 10.
“Noosa are always tough and have had a good core group over the last couple of years,” he said.
Grace Kaihau
“Grace has played rugby in New Zealand and Australia so she’s a very experienced player has made a big difference for us so far this season,” Block said.
Hannah Coonan
“Hannah is an experienced touch footy player but had never played rugby before until this season,” Block said.
“She is playing to a high level and showing the competition what she can do.”
Katie Briscoe
“Katie is an overseas player from America that has come in and is really enthusiastic and leads from the front for us,” Block said.
“She’s been a great addition to our team already.”
Nambour Toads
Women’s head coach Luke Zeremes was another who was proud of how his team was performing.
“It has been really disjointed with the rain and the byes and the rescheduled games but we’re happy with how we’ve started,” he said.
“Five from five is really good but I do think our best is yet to come too, once we get a bit of consistency with some week after week games.
“With all of the washouts we’ve been trying to work hard off field with some random ideas and activities to develop that team bond like trivia night, team dinners and that sort of thing so the dynamic is really good but the girls just want to get out there and play some footy now.”
Nambour, who sit top of the table, have a bye in round 10.
“We had the bye for rep round last week and we had seven involved in that Stingrays team which was good but another bye this week isn’t ideal but I know we will be more than ready to play Brothers in two weeks,” Zeremes said.
Sophia Collins
“We’ve got a lot of girls that are still quite young and there’s eight of them that are still at school so that’ll be a bit of a balance next term with schoolgirls rugby but one of them is Sophia,” he said.
“She’s our fly half and although she is quite young compared to the rest of the competition she is really stepping up as a leader and a bit of a conductor in attack for out team.
“She’s really solid in defence but is starting to back herself in attack too and has shown how dangerous she can be with the ball in hand.”
Kiera Dunbar
“She’s another one of our 17-year-olds and she’s just a tenacious little competitor that plays in the centres for us,” Zeremes said.
“She’s a player that can change the flow of the game through a moment of brilliance whether it be busting through a tackle or getting a turnover.”
Georgia Flood
“Georgia is our fullback and in grade 11 at Sunshine Coast Grammar,” he said.
“For someone so young she’s got awesome game awareness and is developing a really strong skill set.
“She was apart of that Queensland under 19 team earlier in the year and has just been selected in the South Queensland open women‘s team so for someone of her age to be achieving those milestones is pretty awesome.”
Caloundra Lighthouse
Men's head coach Geoff Ingram said there was still room for improvement after the opening rounds and hoped to build against University.
“The team feel is good so far this season,” Ingram said.
“They’re starting to build combinations, execute not only the base game plan but also the variable plans after reading changes in defence.
“We have Uni this week which is always a good challenge so if we’re consistent with phase play we’ll be in good position to win.”
Zach Ison
“Zach has been at the club but has stepped up enormously this year been a real standout,” Ingram said.
“He’s as tough as they come and has a heap of pace to punch through gaps.”
Women’s head coach Kelvin Heirdsfield said he was proud of his team’s four and two start to the season.
“It has been a bit difficult from lack of players and support so far but we’re building a team here which is great,” Heirdsfield said.
“There’s nine of our 15 registered players that are having their first season with us which has been great and a real positive that we’re proud of.”
Caloundra are set to take on University at home in round 10.
“I feel for Uni as they have struggled for numbers and results this year so hopefully they can put a team together against us on Ladies Day this weekend,” he said.
“Anything can happen on the day but hopefully we can perform well in front of our home crowd.”
Tangiora Armstrong
“Tangiora is a new player to our club and hasn’t played rugby since high school,” Heirdsfield said.
“She’s been great and will be a great player on the Coast for years to come I’m sure.”
Grace Woolston
“Grace made her first Stingrays appearance over the weekend and is really starting to come into her own this season,” Heirdsfield said.
Noosa Dolphins
Women’s head coach Damien Coghill said he was happy with his team’s start to the season following three wins and two losses.
“We’re going well, sitting in third place, but it’s been hard to build any recent momentum,” he said.
“It will be six weeks since we’ve had a game so everyone is really excited to get back on the paddock this weekend.”
Coghill said his team would be up for the challenge at home in round 10.
“We are playing Maroochydore who are in fourth place so will be a good test,” he said.
Tahlia Birrel
“It’s Tahlia‘s first season out of high school and she’s playing in the second row for us this season,” Coghill said.
“She‘s a real worker and just never stops.”
Bridget Duncan
“Our other newbie is Bridget who is also in her first season and she just keeps improving each week in defence and attack,” he said.
“She’s been playing on the wing and rises to new challenges each match.”
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