GPS First XV round 8 Team of the Week after epic round
All nine GPS schools are represented in our First XV rugby team of the week, following Nudgee’s premiership-winning heave.
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Nudgee fullback Jacob Johnson played himself to a standstill and was the first player chosen in our Team of the Week after a dramatic round 8 in the closest GPS First XV in many seasons.
Nudgee will claim the First XV premiership outright on Saturday if they beat The Southport School at Southport.
But the giant-killing TSS can create the prospect of a four-way tied premiership if they defeat Nudgee, and both TGS and Churchie win their respective matches.
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Johnson would be able to take up running half marathon’s with ease at the end of the season, so far did he run on Saturday.
Yes his pace scored him a try and made him a dangerous return runner from kicks, but he also used that pace to mop up kicks angled into space.
He iced his performance with several astute clearing kicks under pressure, some with little angle to work with. Surely he would have had a little doze on the way down the Range on the way home, so tired must he have been.
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But he finished strongly, as did the Nudgee side, defending their way to victory after TGS had closed the gap to 28-21 in the run down the home straight.
“There was a lot of fatigue at the end and players cramping up,’’ said Nudgee director of sport Sean Graham.
“I often look at the body language of players at the back end of halves and I thought conditioning held up well.
“We did not use anyone off the bench which was a little unusual because we have been using our bench but the coaches were obviously happy with how we were coming home.’
“We have a job to do.
“Our last two games would have been away trips so it was about enjoying Saturday, and then our preparation starting Sunday for this Saturday.
TEAM OF THE WEEK
15. Jacob Johnson (Nudgee)
If Johnson had worn a GPS tracker, it would have been fascinating to know how much running he did. Not only was he a dangerous attacking weapon with his pace, he also used that speed to mop up when TGS sensibly placed kicks into space. He would have been absolutely exhausted by the end of the match. And some of his left foot kicks at acute angles were outstanding.
14. Samson Tuqiri (Samson Tuqiri)
As the season progresses, the more keen we get to see what the future holds for Tuqiri. A tryscorer with instinct, Tuqiri has improved out of sight this season and we can’t wait to see him play Colts 1 club rugby next season.
13. Prestyn Laine-Sietu (Nudgee)
You won’t see Laine-Sietu feature on the highlight reel, but in a grand final he rose to the occasion. Those half breaks he made out wide may not have created tries, but they carried Nudgee 10-12m over the advantage line. His defence also ended any notion TGS had of attacking the Nudgee midfield, while once he saved a try on the line, then got to his feet to pinch possession.
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12. Frankie Goldsbrough (Churchie)
Goldsbrough was direct with his ball carries and upon contact he kept his legs moving and gained valuable post contact metres.
He scored a sneaky charge-down try and pilfered to win ball at the breakdown which were two positive signs to see from the Queensland Reds contracted centre.
11. Seamus Boakes (Brisbane State High)
Outstanding is how Brisbane State High head coach Haydn Hirsimaki described Boakes’ first game of the season.
The Year 11 student will be a good match-up for Stan Keats and Samson Tuqiri as BSHS look to close out their season against BBC.
10 and 9. Oscar Shaw and James Martens (BBC)
Martens (halfback) and Shaw (fly half) took it to Terrace with a fast-paced style of footy which was wonderful to watch.
Shaw must have shown Martens how to master that treacherous torpedo kick of his because both boys kicked their rivals out of the game.
Indeed Jamie Alexander would be a starting halfback in any other team but since coming into the line-up, the masterful Martens has been impossible to leave out.
8. Jimmy White (TGS)
White has been outstanding this season and he was elite again with inspiring runs into the teeth of the Nudgee defence, along with driving defence which would stop Nudgee runners in their tracks, and sometimes peel then backwards. On grand final day, he would have feature in the 3-2-1 one votes for sure.
7. Joe Gray (TGS)
I bet you TGS wish they could clone this bloke so they had a player like him every season. He has been a revelation with his energy, his effective defence, work at the break down and link play with the ball.
6. Hugo Hart (Nudgee)
It was a battle royale upfront and Hart was up to the challenge with his aggressive defence and ball running. He has been one of Nudgee’s best this season and he did not let his standards slip when his team needed him most.
5. Ed Kasprowicz (Nudgee)
The athletic Kasprowicz was excellent in the air which should never be taken for granted, particularly in a big match against quality opposition looking to spoil Nudgee’s ball. And he displayed nice catch-pass skills under pressure to send his winger away for the opening try of the match. But most Nudgee forwards could have made the Team of the Week this week, such as the team effort.
4. Tom Robinson (Terrace)
Robinson makes the Team of the Week not for his strong running and repeat efforts but his leadership.
Just like his father, young Tom was a vocal leader of his team, psyching them up when BBC would land a blow.
Anyone within a 15 metre radius of the Gregory Terrace huddle would have heard his wise words for someone just 17 years of age.
3. Emil Willie Jawai (Churchie)
We are looking at one of the competition’s best props.
As consistent as they come, loose-head Jawai was tireless on both sides of the ball yet again and he was a crucial link in the wide-shift that saw Harry Cool crash over for the matchwinner.
Shout out to Hugo McCamley who made his debut at prop and was one third of a dominant Churchie scrum.
2. Cooper Hoare (BBC)
The BBC forwards are always on song but their hooker Cooper Hoare was just incredible. He scored two very important tries when the game was in the balance and he had to work for both of them.
1. Jack Butterfield (Terrace)
The Terrace loose-head ran telling lines and scrummaged well. He also scored two on a day where Terrace’s rolling maul was close to its best.
Reserves
Jye Crothers (Churchie)
If it’s a Crothers it’s a good one and Jye upheld that tradition when he ruled the breakdown against a very strong Ipswich Grammar side.
He was brave with his front-on collisions and Toowoomba Grammar will have to be at their best to overcome the boys from Ipswich.
As for Churchie, Crothers will be crucial against Terrace who are no pushovers.
George Griffiths (TGS)
A nice steady she goes performance in the biggest match of the season. Nothing spectacular from the TGS captain, but just more of the same in a season where he has set a high benchmark.
Gray and Nathan O’Neill (BBC)
They wore jersey No. 6 and No. 8 respectively and worked overtime to repel Terrace’s forward weapons.
They did an outstanding job and they were crowd favourites for doing so.
Tyler Mayberry (BBC)
He is tough as teak and muscular as they get and that power shone through at the weekend.
He was a king cone breakdown time and continued to earn turnovers.
Sam and Joe McGahan (Terrace)
Starting with fly half Sam, he is coming into his own following a nice growth spurt over the summer.
He looked confident, he kicked into space well and his passing was impressive. His brother Joe was also solid with limited touches on the wing.
When he was given the ball, McGahan made two smart decisions to put in on the toe, chase and put BBC under pressure.
Oscar Affleck (Ipswich Grammar)
Ipswich Grammar have been unlucky this season but regardless of the win-loss record Affleck and his teammates should be proud of what they have achieved.
What a squad they have moving forward and lock Affleck has led the way this season with his effort.
He scored a strong pick-and-drive try on Saturday and so did his partner in crime Lyncoln Cliffe (No. 8) who has also been tremendous all season long.
Moses Manu (Brisbane State High)
Here’s a player who could really thrive in Colts 1 next season. An uncompromising prop, Manu showed why he is one of the best front rowers in his age level against Brisbane Grammar at the weekend.
Flanker Mattias Agent was also huge in his return from injury.
Lincoln Manuel (Brisbane Grammar)
Brisbane Grammar will have a wonderful replacement for Alex Roe at No. 8 next season with debutant Lincoln Manuel showing on the weekend he is next in line.
He did a great job according to head coach Phil Mooney.
Rowan Tong-Law (Brisbane Grammar)
The Brisbane Grammar First XV vice-captain led his side out for the last time in 2023 as captain and his scrummaging among other strong points in his game led the way.
Shannon Simpson (Brisbane Grammar)
The outside centre played in his last game for Brisbane Grammar and he made it a good one.
He is illusive and light on his feet and that caused troubles for Brisbane State High in the first half.
Tauave Leofa (Brisbane State High)
A highlight-reel player if ever there was one.
He scored a 50 metre solo try and was the head of the snake in his side’s second half push.
Amaziah Murgha (Ipswich Grammar)
Keep an eye out for a Discovery Players of the Season story on Thursday and hint, Murgha was one of the first players we thought of when writing it.
He has been a revelation on the wing for Ipswich Grammar and he reminds us of Floyd Aubrey of Marist College Ashgrove, perhaps with a bit more speed.
Round 9
TSS v NC
BSHS v BBC
IGS v TGS
ACTS v GT
BGS: Bye
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