Club rugby grand finals: Meeting the King and Queen-Makers
Who will be the King-Makers and Queen-Makers of grand final day? Here we reveal some key players across the women’s, colts 1 and Premier rugby deciders looming on Sunday.
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The time has arrived. Grand final. The talk is over, the speculation has finished. It is time for action.
Brothers will face Wests in the Hospital Cup, Souths will butt horns with Brothers in Colts 1 and Sunnybank will tackle Bond University in the Premier Women competition in a grand final bonanza next Sunday at hallowed Ballymore.
What a line-up of finals that is.
GPS FIRST XV RUGBY ROUND 6 TEAM OF THE WEEK
Peering into our crystal ball, we take a punt on who we think will be the King-Makers, and Queen-Makers, of grand final day.
BIG WRAPS ON TIM RYAN
The dynamic Tim Ryan from St Patrick’s College, Shorncliffe, was the best player in the AIC First XV schoolboy rugby competition in 2021, and could have played first grade in his first year out of school in 2022.
Brothers Hospital Cup head coach Brendan Gabbett said “We knew Tim obviously as a colt last year and we deliberately left him as a colt. There were instances last year where we could have picked him but we thought just give him time to enjoy his footy.
“This year he has just come on in leaps and bounds. The best thing for Tim right now is to play footy … With a lot of our guys week-in-week-out football for all of them make them better and that’s exactly what has happened to Tim.
“Every week he has gotten better and better because he is consistently playing.”
When asked what Ryan’s ceiling could be, Gabbett said he didn’t doubt he could be a Wallaby.
‘I don’t doubt that he could be a Wallaby. If we do the right thing with Tim Ryan as a code … Let him play week-in-week-out he could be a Wallaby that makes a difference not just a Wallaby.”
HOSPITAL CUP
Wests v Brothers
Lawson Creighton (Brothers)
The Queensland Reds playmaker is in a fine patch of form and with his hand on the trigger, Brothers were in safe hands.
Gabbett said: Creighton is 25 so his best six years are in front of him. So there isn’t a five-eighth in Australia right now that is doing what Lawson is doing so I hope no one has forgotten about Lawson Creighton and how good of a footballer he is because the best five years are in front of him.
“He has worked his game out, he has a body that matches up professionally … His ceiling is higher than most.”
Glen and David Vaihu (Wests)
The Vaihu brothers can do a bit of everything. They have speed, stepping and strength. Leave them open at your peril.
Hunter Paisami (Wests)
The Queensland Reds centre is fully fit and ready to go. With the Wests forwards laying the foundation, watch for Paisami to make some serious metres.
Harry and Will Wilson (Brothers)
The Wilson brothers will be extra fired up running out together on Sunday so expect the output of three players.
COLTS 1
Brothers v Souths
Ryley Bierton (Souths)
Bierton is one of those players who can go a whole game without touching the ball, but come to the fore when it matters most and make that big play.
He also has goalkicking duties which could prove the difference.
Charlie Brosnan (Brothers)
What an athlete for a tight forward. With hands like a fly half, the cover tackling skills of a No. 8 and a vertical leap as good as any, this bloke will both feed his teammates possession, and carry the ball forward with aplomb.
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Denzil Perkins (Souths)
A state sprinter, Denzil Perkins is always a threat on the wing.
He is fast and strong and he must be marked at all times.
Joe Saina (Souths)
The line-running outside centre is powerful through the hips and of late, has had a habit of scoring.
His crash running will help Souths wear down The Brothers defence and from there they can strike.
The same can be said for English inside centre Dylan Jones, who has been impressive in this finals’ series after a stellar season.
Will Cartwright (Brothers)
A glorious link between his forwards and backs, Cartwright is a slightly unsung hero in this well oiled machine.
Brothers play a whippy, upbeat game and Cartwright is the chief navigator with impeccable Judgement and execution.
Dominic Thygesen (Souths)
Thygesen has been a revelation this season, coming out of the woodwork to be a front runner for starting No. 8 in the Queensland Reds under 19s side for this springs National Championships
Dre Pakeho (Brothers)
This powerhouse inside centre has it all – vision with the ball, strength to drag defenders with him in a confrontation and deliver back at the breakdown, and the speed to whiz forward and capitalise on quick ball off the ruck.
If things were tight, he also has a snappy kicking game to remove Brothers from unwanted pressure.
Souths will have a circle around his name, that’s for sure.
Harry Holt
He throws the ball into the lineout and he is the captain of the team.
He has plenty of responsibility but there is no better man for the job than St Laurence’s College premiership winner Holt.
Kadin Pritchard (Brothers)
When you have a forward pack containing Brosnan, Harley, Cameron, Wilson, Condon and co, you want to be able to reward their expertise with players who seize their opportunities.
And in Pritchard Brothers have an outside centre strike weapon.
The athletic Pritchard has a wide range of skills, having played school football as a playmaker and a finisher from fullback, but running is his best suite. Give him front foot ball and half a chance and he’s off.
Jake Kurbatoff
A two time St Laurence’s College First XV premiership winner and the newest Under 20s Player of the Year is a winner.
His workrate and lineout jumping is impressive.
PREMIER WOMEN
Ana Afuie (Sunnybank)
The 2023 Selena Worsley medallist is a freakish talent and whether she as named at halfback or fly half, she will stamp her mark on the match.
Christina Sekona (Sunnybank)
The Wallaroos prop was huge in the Dragons’ preliminary final victory over UQ and will break down the Bond defences with her powerful pick-and-drives.
Ivania Wong and Cecilia Smith (Sunnybank)
The Wallaroos pair are defensively brutal and attacking weapons whose experience could help Sunnybank get over the line.
Mel Wilks and Caitlyn Costello (Bond Uni)
Wilks’ illusive carrying and kicking game mixed with Costello’s strength and draw-and-pass is a potent cocktail for success.
Zoe Hanna (Bond Uni)
The tireless No. 8 was the Bullsharks prime mover in their 22-12 over Sunnybank a fortnight ago.
She makes the team tick.
Dianne Waight (Bond Uni)
She is deadly because of her speed and if Bond can find her in space it is over.
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