GPS First XV rugby discovery players of the season
How’s this for 25 GPS First XV rugby discovery players of the season. Every team is represented ahead of a bumper round 9 which could see the premiership tied four ways.
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We knew it would be a tight competition, but you would had to have been a relative of Nostradamus to suggest the premiership could be shared four ways.
While Nudgee College were in the box seat – they were guaranteed to at least claim a shared premiership – nothing can be taken for granted when they confront high achieving The Southport School on the Coast this Saturday.
NUDGEE CLAIM PREMIERSHIP – BUT WILL IT BE AN OUTRIGHT TITLE WIN?
Churchie, who play Terrace at Terrace, and Toowoomba Grammar School, who take on Ipswich Grammar School, will also share the title if they win their respective matches and Nudgee lose to TSS.
In the other game BSHS, who with a bit of luck would have been pushing for the premiership themselves, will finish the season against BBC.
To be honest it is one thing saying Churchie and TGS can still share the premiership, but their opponents, Terrace and IGS, have the ability to upset them and that would not surprise.
What a season it has been. And to celebrate a bumper nine weeks of GPS rugby, we recognise some of the new faces in the competition this season.
Here they are, the Discovery Players of the Season.
Discovery players
Kingsley Uys (TSS)
TSS have an unearthed a beauty here. We glimpsed him in the Reds Emerging Cup last season but to the wide population this bloke came from left field to be a prop forward sensation this winter and spring. Just when you thought TSS would level out this season, up he jumped to lead a spirited TSS campaign.
RELATED LINKS
GPS FIRST XV ROUND 7 TEAM OF THE WEEK
GPS RUGBY TEAM OF THE DECADE SO FAR
THE BEST 23 PLAYERS SINCE 2010 – MIKE WALLACE REVEALS
Mattias Agent (BSHS)
Week after week Agent was named in our Team of the Week. You took it for granted after each round that you were looking for only 14 top players because flanker Agent already had one position wrapped up.
James Martens (BBC)
Like a bolt from the blue, Martens arrived in round 7 to produce a man of the match performing playing halfback for BBC, and then backed it up with another high class effort in round 8. He is not a complete mystery box because he played last season, but the manner in which he has seized his chance late in the competition has been spectacular.
Jacob Johnson (Nudgee)
Without Rob Toia, Tory Bath or Tariq Tanner who was going to be the x-factor player to help Nudgee offer a point of difference. Jacob Johnson, that’s who.
Possessing express pace, he is not just an electric ball runner but also uses that pace to mop up and cover defence, while also having this super kicking game no doubt helped by playing First XI football.
He has given Nudgee a point of difference this season, and last Saturday rose to the occasion in the biggest match of the competition for Nudgee so far.
Another big challenge awaits this Saturday as well against The Southport School.
Amaziah Murgha (Ipswich Grammar School)
A little like Johnson, Murgha arrived on the scene with rare attacking skills. He is lightning quick, an excitement machine who can score tries with his elusive running, or save them with his cover defence.
Oliver Barrett (Nudgee)
At the other end of the scale to quicksilver pair Johnson and Murgha, Nudgee hooker Barrett is like a cargo ship, a steady she goes type able to outlast any conditions.
But hasn’t he fitted in perfectly to Nudgee’s working man’s pack.
Max Blanch (Churchie)
The Churchie inside centre has been super in his first season of First XV rugby.
After impressing in the Emerging Reds Cup late last year and the Cyril Connell Challenge to begin this year, we knew Blanch would play well but he has exceeded expectations.
His defence is rock solid and has been consistent as could be.
Oscar Shaw (BBC)
He has the best torpedo kick in the competition.
Stanley Keats (BBC)
Keats is a squeaky clean winger whose communication has saved a ton of tries throughout the year.
He can do a bit of everything and he has played every game for BBC this year.
Harry Newnham (TGS)
Defence is a strength, but he also carries strongly. He was a great addition to the TGS side.
Angus Kelly (Terrace)
The inside centre is a good size, strong defensively and tough with his carries. He’d be a great asset to any side and although he played last season, it was 2023 where he made his mark.
Bailey Trew (BSHS)
He did not always get enough chances, but when he did he made an impact.
RELATED LINKS
GPS RUGBY DOYEN NOMINATES TSS’ BEST IN 14 YEARS
CLUB GRAND FINAL REPORTS: PREMIER, WOMEN. COLTS, RESERVES
GPS FIRST XV RUGBY ROUND 7 REPORT
Nicholas Conway (Nudgee)
Conway burst onto the scene with four tries against BGS mid-season and held his place ever since.
Emmanuel Taviri had his season cut short due to injury and Conway stepped in with a step that can kill.
Tyson Walker (Ipswich Grammar School)
He was the baby of the First XV competition and did very well.
As a Year 10 student he showed some inexperience by pushing play on occasions, but he is a talented fullback or halve who would have learned so much from the hurly, burly of playing with young men.
Dajuan Manase (Ipwsich Grammar School)
Ipswich Grammar School have so much talent in their ranks. Stanley Huen, Israel Leota and Kohen Briggs go (2022) and in come Walker, Manase and Finn Kendall.
Manase was elite with his crash running and Kendall also deserves praise as well for fitting right in as a Year 10 student.
Alex Roe (Brisbane Grammar School)
BGS were spirited again this season and to the fore was Roe. He was just tough and uncompromising and deserves special acknowledge among peers on this list.
Sam Hyne (Nudgee College)
It takes an uncompromising No, 8 to keep a talented Nixon Pasese in the Seconds.
But Hyne took the opportunity with both hands and has been one of Nudgee’s best forwards in the last month.
Against Churchie and Toowoomba, workhorse Hyne worked himself to a standstill.
Hamish Ward (Churchie)
He had a cracker against Nudgee in round 7 and the Churchie scrum was overwhelming because of him.
Iliesa Baravilala (TGS)
Jimmy White (TGS)
One of the reasons TGS had such an outstanding season was because they had White at No.8.
Fortified only by tape around his head, White obviously got white line fever when he crossed the sideline because at times he cut an inspired figure.
Joe Gray (TGS)
Have we saved the best until last. Gray has been a revelation at flanker. At times he has been one and a half players, effective with his carries and unloading, strong in defence and a fierce runner of the ball.
Alex Roe (BGS)
Alex Roe has been an inspiring captain for BGS this season. Tough, unrelenting, Roe has been the type of player you would like to play alongside.
Round 9
TSS v NC
BSHS v BBC
IGS v TGS
ACTS v GT
BGS: Bye
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