Colts 1 club rugby: Rapid recap, player analysis ahead of defining round 15
Every game is a must-win for six of the nine Colts 1 club rugby teams as we enter the final month of the regular season. Read the lay of the land and team analysis here ahead of a blockbuster round 15.
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Colts 1 club rugby’s race to the finals is heating up with just four rounds remaining in the regular season.
The business end of competition promises to be riveting with six teams vying for four finals spots.
A must-win mentality is needed from Bond University, Souths, University, Wests, Easts and Sunnybank while GPS, Norths and Brothers will be eager to throw a spanner in the works and finish in a winning flurry.
This Saturday, Wests host Sunnybank at Sylvan Road in a huge clash that could have finals implications.
Wests, currently fourth, have won eight of 13 games. Sunnybank, currently sixth, have won seven of 12 games and have the match in hand.
The Bulldogs are on a roll.
Their form guide is as follows: 50-26 win over Brothers, 27-26 win over Souths, 31-19 win over University and 32-23 win over Easts.
In that time, traditional No.9 Jamie Alexander has been installed at flyhalf to allow for fellow BBC old boy Stan Keats to have a starting role at halfback.
After a few growing pains initially, the new combination has yielded great success.
Harry Solofa’s development in his debut season has been moving at a serious rate of knots, while his props Hamish Ward, Archie Smith and Jacob Job have been strong at scrum time.
Rory Bliss, the captain, and Will Pascoe, a damaging ball runner, have been top notch in the second row.
Tom Doe, who was coached by Phil Mooney during his time as a First XV backrower at Brisbane Grammar, has stuck out in his bright orange headgear and with his support play alongside ferocious flankers Alex Watkins and Ezalle Matautia.
Flexible back Ryan Shaw — who during his time at Wests has been exercised at flyhalf, No.12, wing and fullback — has been a perfect fit at inside centre as of late.
The inclusion of Charlie Bird at outside centre has given Wests a considerable boost.
After starting the year in Wynnum Manly’s Meninga Cup team as a fullback, Bird has brought the goods defensively and been heavily involved in attack.
The Cairns product played as a flyhalf at BBC and has taken to his new position like a duck to water.
Instinctual fullback Nick Dunstan and outstanding winger DJ Colaivalu have also been gaining confidence and continuity in the Wests backfield.
Sunnybank, since losing 32-7 against Souths four weeks ago, have beaten Brothers, GPS and Norths to stay in the hunt for a finals berth.
They beat the Bulldogs at home earlier this year but will have a different challenge waiting for them come Saturday.
The front-row of Royden Fakaosilea, Dre Loughlin and Ephesian Tusa has been rock-solid, with Loughlin a particular standout.
Fijian forward Emmanuel Mara (lock) has been a superb find this season for coach Rex Tapuai with his barnstorming midfield play thrusting Sunnybank over the gain line.
The backrow of blue-collar workers Declan O’Sullivan, Tane Gregory and Oscar Lane has also delivered the goods.
Tireless Ipswich Grammar old boys Gregory and O’Sullivan have played well in every game this season.
Mattias Agent has also been a fine forward leader at either No.8 or lock.
Scrumhalf Francis Pepe has been a quiet achiever who warrants praise. He is still at school at Mabel Park SHS and has done a terrific job in his core role all season.
The void left by Netani Lesimaikimatuku (first grade) has been filled by flyhalf Joseph Cummins, a smart footballer with a big right boot.
His backline division is slick when at its best.
Wingers Jeriah Vagana and Kiyan Gunewardene have a nice mix of aggression and finesse while centres DJ Manase, Teahoterangi Rapata and Junior Sitia Malupo are as good as any in this competition.
Vice-captain Manase has started every game offering the best of both worlds at inside centre.
Fullback Bailey Danielson, outside back Journey Wana and elite interchange forward Genesis Iuli have all had their moments as well.
At Bottomley Park, Easts (7-5, 39pts) will host Souths (eight wins, one draw, four losses, 44pts) in another blockbuster.
Fifth-placed Easts secured a crucial 36-35 win over University last Saturday when prop Byron Murphy scored after the hooter.
It was so important leading into this week’s clash against second-placed Souths who have found ways to win with a completely new-look team to the one that won last year’s premiership.
Props Dante Febo, Craig Rowsell and young veteran Byron Murphy have been strong for Easts while hookers Jakeb Horne and Cooper Hoare are two of the best in the business.
Second rowers Caleb Godfrey, Max Campbell, Tom Nadenic and Tom Stoddart have also been superb at times.
Godfrey, a first-year Colt out of Churchie, has been a breath of fresh air as a starter or as a supersub while friendly giant Nadenic is also finding his feet with every experience.
Campbell’s courageous return, after a year off rehabilitating a shoulder reconstruction, has been the stuff of legends.
Stoddart and his cousin Joe (back rower) have been busy as always, while flanker Noah Rauluni and PJ Su’a have recently bolstered the back row after missing matches while away with Fiji and Samoa’s respective under-20s outfits.
If that dynamic duo and those around them play to their potential, Easts can make a run to the grand final.
Villanova product Caden Griffiths has showed his utility value moving from the wing into scrumhalf and doing a sound job.
Flyhalf Sam McGahan has made a strong start to his Colts career with a handful of masterful outings and an improved running game putting him in the frame for representative selection this Spring.
Outside backs Will Kartelo (St Laurence’s), Ned Godwin (Villanova), Will Quinn (Iona) and Tom Lambo (Western Australia) have all had their moments.
Kartelo’s moment was a stunning right-corner try that had onlookers at Sci-Fleet Stadium gasping in astonishment.
Wrecking ball inside centre Ilan Cloete and captain Larry Clark have been both reliable and effective in the centres.
They will have their hands full on Saturday coming up against top-flight Souths midfielders Darcy Rowan and Harry Newnham.
Rowan made his Hospital Cup debut off the bench last week against Bond University and Newnham is on the same path.
The Souths backline is brimming with star power.
Fullback Gideon Lasaqa and flair-filled Fijian Viliame Lacudru (wing) have taken no prisoners with their exhilarating footwork sparking telling incursions from the backfield.
Playmakers Finn Mackay and Pat Brackenrig have been classy and accurate with their goal kicking while Sunshine Coast product Jimmy Jackson has been a prized halfback recruit from University.
Standouts in the forward pack have been flanker Trent Picot, emerging lock or No.8 Ben Davis, breakaway Huw Griffiths and prop Viliami Motuapuaka.
Prop Lucas Oxley, hooker Malachi Tuakura, and locks Jake Stephens, Charlie Yeomans and Rhys Chadburn have been quiet achievers who Souths wouldn’t trade for anyone.
The game between Bond Uni (first) and Brothers (ninth) on the Gold Coast is also sure to entertain even though The Brethren are out of the finals race.
You get the feeling a Brothers win is approaching after plenty of near misses this season.
They won’t have it easy against a Bond team that has progressed nicely after last year losing on full-time against Souths in the preliminary final.
Bond head coach and former All Black Rico Gear has got plenty out of his Kiwi boys, scrumhalf Sam Howarth and No.8 Keanu Rasch.
Loosehead Jake Leck has shot out of the ground to be a key player and fellow props Rogan Huntley and Jonah Rangiwai have also had their say in a strong scrum foundation.
Hooker Blaze Moana has been scoring tries like he did for three years in the TSS First XV.
First-year Bull Sharks Will Carter (flanker) and Max Angove, both Melbourne boys, have been magic.
Lock Charlie McCauley and his outstanding blindside flanker Fergus Gillan have been the same.
South African big man Heinrich Fourie has been a force in various forward positions.
Flyhalf Callum Simpson has pulled the trigger on some expansive play involving a sleek backline.
Crafty No.12 Jackson Jury, imposing outside centre Mason King and pacy fullback Ryan Wildman have done a tremendous job.
Wins have been few and far between for Brothers but there are plenty of green shoots at Crosby Park.
Aggressive loosehead Conrad Scott (BBC) and flanker Nate Wines (Gregory Terrace) have been willing in the second round of competition.
Lock Harrison Angel and No.8 Juan Falaniko have been particularly impressive.
Angel has been elite at lineout time and has welcomed new teammate Will Ross, a Year 12 student at Padua College, in recent weeks since the conclusion of the AIC season.
The robust Falaniko has been unrelenting all season long while hooker Liam Robinson and flanker Oli Clarke have been good too.
Captain Zach Lewis has made an impressive return to club footy after successfully rehabilitating serious knee injuries to be a key backline figure, whether as a fullback or scrumhalf.
The class of flyhalf Charlie Johnstone has been undeniable while the fearlessness of No.12 Sam Condon has been admirable.
Josh Takai has been a handful at No.13 to ensure his presence in Reds Under-19s selection conversations.
Fullback Jackson Hill and wingers Joel Drew and Tate Connors have been well contained by opposition defences despite being capable of those highlight plays.
Third-year Colt Flynn Martinez-Briggs has improved out of sight and his superb stint off the bench last week against Wests, where twice he stole breakdown ball, was the proof.
Indeed Brothers are not lacking the troops.
Stationed on the bench last week was more-than-capable halfback Joseph Post, utility back Campbell Rolfe and the livewire Adam Khan.
The fourth match of round 15 will be played at Yoku Road between GPS and Norths, with both teams out of playoff contention.
It has been another year of near misses and too many single-digit losses to count for both sides.
GPS will be looking to go out with a bang after a season that saw country fullback Jonah Allen, scrumhalf James prole, captain George Griffiths and flanker Riley Canavan really step up.
The Gallopers have been riddled with injuries, most notably to Tasman Barry. The absence of strike weapon Richard Dean has not helped.
GPS haven’t struggled to give every team a run for their money with prop Harry Gould a spearhead and hooker Reuben Downes terrific in his first season.
Flankers Tom Williams and Canavan have been stellar, with club junior Canavan producing a seriously good campaign after last year playing Colts 2.
Toowoomba Grammar old boy Griffiths has also been immense leading by example and owning lineout time — with and without big man Avery Thomson (first grade).
Forward marvel Tom Hansson was a great addition to GPS after playing club rugby league in 2024, while outside centre Tom Millard (Marist Ashgrove, 2024) has not looked out of place alongside trusty No.12 Tobias Graham.
Flyhalf-fullback utilities Spencer Alcock and Jude Knapp have each had their moments in a hot-and-cold season for the Gallopers (four wins, one draw, seven losses).
An undersized Norths (2-11) have been better than their record suggests and they have three games left to go out soaring.
Bart Ritchie’s men have been resilient but have not been rewarded in the win column.
Take away a few key moments and the recent 33-27 and 24-23 losses against Sunnybank and Brothers could have fell in Norths’ favour.
Scottish fullback Henry Armstrong has been an ace in the pack, while flyhalf Cale Maurice has also been a grand new addition from Freds Pass (Northern Territory) via Toowoomba.
Former wing Sam Dickie has built on his fine 2024 season by moving one closer to the ruck and playing well at outside centre.
Consistency from inside centre Will Balke has seen him become an integral member of the backline.
The spirit of front-row combatants Oli Aleman, Manaaki Bateman and Ta’ialalolei’aasasaumani Faalogo has pleased Ritchie.
Bateman has started every game while Faalogo has stepped up to the plate after first-choice prop Jovid Aveau went down with an ACL injury during a pre-season trial match.
Hardworking forwards Jack Corby, Brock Powell, Sean Noone and Zack Sinclair have maintained a high standard on both sides of the ball as well, while flanker Ben Kluck has been making up for lost time after missing most of the first round recovering from a nasty ankle injury.
Scrumhalf supremo Callum Reidy has missed the second round after taking up an opportunity in Scotland (Glascow) to further his career.
Pace-setters University will sit out with a bye this Saturday before coming up against Souths on July 26.
The Students (8-5) were the team to beat for the first three months of competition after captain Raife McKenzie and his team shot out of the gates.
Lineout maestro McKenzie was at the epicentre, as was promising loosehead Kingbenjamin Swerling, tighthead Paul Aiolupotea and mobile No.8 Angus Kelly.
Forward utilities Xavier Grambower and Mitch Waldon were also key, alongside newcomer Hugh Chapman (Perth product).
When not included in Elton Berrange’s first grade outfit, fullback Tom Howard has run amok at this level.
Last Saturday, in his absence, halfback Tafito Ah-Ki lapped up his chance to wear jersey No.15 and scored a cracking try.
Steady Eddie scrumhalf Tom Simpson made it possible.
Speed demon Mitch Moss and inside centre Kye Porter have been elite for University, while flyhalf Isaac McAuliffe and smart winger Finlay Harris have been staples.
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