USC Spartans boast top talent in Universities Rugby League Queensland competition

The USC Spartans are a formidable force among southeast Queensland’s best universities in their maiden season. Here are their standout stars.

Freak talent, relentless forwards and game changing skills have helped the Spartans rise into a formidable force among southeast Queensland’s best universities.

In just their maiden season, the University of the Sunshine Coast team has enjoyed an undefeated roll through the five-team Universities Rugby League Queensland competition.

The Spartans have won three and drawn one of their opening four games to lead the ladder heading into the final five rounds of the competition.

Head coach Matthew O’Donnell said it was important for his charges to maintain their form and capitalise on their hard work on the run to finals.

While he had faith in their skill, O’Donnell said he’d been pleasantly surprised with the Spartans’ dominance.

“The boys are pretty stoked and proud to be where we’re at,” O’Donnell said.

“It’s our first season in anything and we didn’t exist until we formed in the pandemic last year so literally everything is brand new and our first go at everything really.

“I didn’t expect us to gel as well as we have done.”

He said the team consisted of players from Caboolture to Gympie and even from further afield.

“It’s a good healthy mix and it’s always good to get those people from outside in to get a new perspective on stuff,” he said.

He said efforts in defence had proven a major strength for the outfit.

“That’s probably one of our main things, the boys really get around it when it comes to defence,” he said.

“We need to work on our errors, we make a silly mistakes that get the other team back in but we seem to rally around each other.

“I think that comes from the boys enjoying each other’s company and getting among it.

“We like to have a fair dig and we love the contact.”

Riley Arthur and O’Donnell are among the top try scorers in the competition with four each.

The Spartans’ next game will be at home at Sippy Downs on July 21 against the UQ Hounds.

Here’s some of the players that have risen to the occasion for the Spartans throughout the season.

Riley Arthur (centre)

USC Spartans players Ben Fischer and Riley Arthur.

“He’s got one of those freaky (habits) of seeming to pull the game out of nowhere and something out of nowhere,” O’Donnell said.

“He has a lot of speed and he’s very unorthodox but somehow it seems to pay off and he seems to be in the right place in the right time.”

Jack Drury and Bradley Beckett (forwards)

USC Spartans players Jack Drury (left) and Brad Beckett.

“They take those tough carries and do it all game,” O’Donnell said.

“They’re winning tackles as well and getting good quick plays of the ball and have the other team on their back (foot) which is exactly what you want out of a front row.

“You could get a full game out of Drury and Brad but you try and give them a little bit of rest in that front row.”

Joseph Chapman (fullback)

USC Spartans player Joe Chapman.

“He plays Gympie A-grade and he’s been phenomenal,” O’Donnell said.

“I reckon he’s pulled us out of a lot of sticky situations.

“His kick return is great.

“He plays with nothing but heart and gives 100 per cent. There’s no jogging around, he’s full going for it and puts his body on the line and he’s a good bloke too.

“He dislocated his finger (pictured) during 9s at the start of the year. He strapped it up and kept playing and that exemplifies the type of player he is.”

Jai Smith and Joe Lowe (U21s Falcons talents)

USC Spartans player Joe Lowe.

“The two Falcons boys come in when they can and whenever they come you feel a massive shift (in momentum) straight away,” he said.

“Jai is a really good hooker coming out from dummy half and has a good running game and his game awareness is spot on.

“Joe reads the game really well and makes all the right calls, his gambles pay off and he takes the right options. He’s got X-factor.”