GPS First XV rugby: Our 20 Players of the Week list
GPS First XV rugby: Who shone brightest on the opening day of the season? Here we revealed our top 20 Players of the Week.
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He wears the famous No.15 First XV jersey at the famous rugby union breeding ground of St Joseph’s Nudgee College, and looks in the prime of his career.
Meet Tory Bath, the son of a Christchurch native whose COVID-19 interrupted 2021 First XV campaign was shorter than most when he sustained a broken leg.
But Bath’s blinding pace is back, as are his fly half-like ball skills, and his full package of skills were there for all to see when Nudgee defeated The Southport School in round 1 action last Saturday.
Earlier this year Bath returned playing for his junior rugby league club, Norths, in the Meninga Cup under 18 competition, where he played his way into the Queensland 18s league side which two weeks ago won the national championship.
In that state side was his teammate from Norths, Karl Oloapu, who ironically went to school with Rob Toia at Redcliffe.
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Bath said being named in the Queensland side was “things you dreamt of’’.
“Ever since being a little boy you want to put that Queensland jersey on,’’ Bath said.
And now Bath is living out another dream in his second season of First XV rugby with Nudgee.
Each week we will present an array of Players of the Week.
Below are our round 1 Players of the Week.
Fullback: Tory Bath (Nudgee)
Bath produced a “blink or you’ll miss it’’ performance, displaying blinding speed to carve TSS up after the initial bluff and bluster of the match. He scored two and set up a third with a chip ahead after break from a long way out. Bath looked in the prime of his form.
Fullback: Mac Kelley (Churchie)
Kelley was sensational on both sides of the ball. With his attacking prowess in Jersey No.15 and brave defence, he gave Churchie the edge.
Kelley made a trysaver in the dying moments of the match, sealing the deal to give Churchie a stunning win away from home.
Fullback: Nick Dunstan (Terrace)
Despite the nerves, Dunstan demonstrated great poise at the back. He was “cool under pressure” and earned the praise of coach Michael Broad who was very pleased with his efforts.
Wing: Samson Tuqiri (BBC)
Tuqiri scored the try of the day in BBC’s 31-13 victory over BSHS on Saturday.
He spotted a hole in the opposition’s defence and indeed he pounced, running away for a 60m try.
The crowd loved this one.
Centre: Rob Toia (Nudgee College)
Toia was an outside back powerhouse with dynamic strength and speed, hurting the TSS defensive line every time he ran the ball. He was good last season and he already seems on another planet in 2022.
Centre: Xavier Rubens (BBC)
Rubens was a clear standout with his damaging ball-carrying. The inside centre was a handful to contain whenever he had the ball in hand.
He dashed away for BBC’s first try of 2022 with a step in and away to leave his defender stuck in their tracks.
Centre: Chase Oates (TGS)
Oates went for an all-or-nothing play on Saturday, going for an intercept with TGS up one point with minutes to play.
It was a big play that paid off, Oates running away with a try to push his side in front eight. What a way to get the Toowoomba supporters on their feet.
Centre: Frankie Goldsbrough (Churchie)
Goldsbrough was a hat-trick hero on Saturday, kicking off Churchies’ season with a nail biting 24-19 victory over Terrace.
Churchie First XV head coach Ryan Schultz had high praise for Goldsbrough as his elite ball running gave his boys the go-forward to get it done.
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Centre: Jye Gray (The Southport School)
The TSS is an attacking dynamo but he did some crucial mopping up plays against Nudgee, using his pace to scoop up the ball on the ground at one stage and covering in defence on other occasions. All the while Nudgee were on red alert when he carried the ball, knowing all too well about his elusive qualities.
Wing: Toshi Butlin (BSHS)
The only thing Butlin needs more of is the ball. With limited touches he was able to wreak havoc.
With a mix of speed and agility, the GPS track and field sprint champion busted his way through defenders whenever he was given the chance. He ignited BSHS’s second and final five-pointer in what was a feel-good try for his team after a strong effort.
Five-eight: Jake House (Nudgee College)
Adlock and his halves partner, the headgear wearing Inigo Lawrence, were like the Invisible Men as they expertly linked the backs and the forwards together. One moment you were admiring the go forward and control of the Nudgee forwards, and the next thing the ball was in the hands of Rob Toia or Troy Bath. So sublime was their handling one barely noticed the transition wide of the ruck.
Halfback: Jamie Alexander (BBC)
Alexander was the full package for BBC. It was a truly remarkable display from the scrum half as he showcased his bag of tricks.
A bullet-pass, brilliant defence, incredible instincts. He led from the front. He scored, he assisted multiple tries, and was everywhere, threatening BSHS for the entire 70.
Alexander will capitalise if he catches you napping. He’s one to watch this season.
Halfback Archie Wilson (Churchie)
Wilson was another scrum half standout from round one’s fixtures.
Terrace First XV head coach Michael Broad recognised Wiilson’s superb sniping from the ruck, saying he “found holes in our defence and capitalised quickly.”
No.8: Angus Munn (Terrace)
Player to Watch Angus Munn had a strong showing in game one of his third and final season in the First XV.
He was busy around the ground and had some brilliant runs.
Flanker: Douglas Kennar (BSHS)
Kennar was BSHS’ best in round one. His physicality, aggression and never-give-up attitude was apparent from the sideline.
He grabbed his team’s first try of 2022 in a fantastic first half performance.
Flanker: Thomas Stoddart (Churchie)
Churchies’ First XV Thomas Stoddart led by example with his defence. He made some huge tackles, and earned some crucial breakdown wins in the game’s dying moments which deterred countless Terrace surges at the line.
Lock: George Griffiths (TGS)
Griffiths grinded it out in his First XV debut and was rewarded with a try and a win.
He was super in the lineouts, and worked exceptionally well with second-row partner Charlie Horn.
Lock Raife McKenzie (IGS)
McKenzie was excellent in a losing side on Saturday. He worked tirelessly all game, and showed up everywhere across the paddock.
McKenzie was assisted by scrumhalf Nathan Fraser who’s service was top-tier.
Prop: Regin Pratt (BBC)
Pratt was the unsung hero in BBC’s round one triumph. The towering tightwad held down the scrums, tackled his heart out, did the dirty work.
Hooker: Cooper Hoare (BBC)
Hoare was a workhorse close to BSHS’s try line on Saturday. He burrowed his way in countless times, and was rewarded with a meat pie.
You’d need a count on how many pick-and-drives he had as he wore down his rivals defence.
Prop: Rory Beech (Nudgee College)
Alongside Will Rogers and Luke O’Sullivan, Beech form a front row wedge which TSS struggled to topple on the opening day of competition.
Special mentions:
Flanker: Ayrton Holmes (IGS), Backrow: Nick Nilton (TSS), Halfback: Nathan Fraser (IGS), Lock: Charlie Horn (TGS), Flanker: Toby Macpherson (BBC), Halfback: Inigo Lawrence (Nudgee), Flanker: Pat Dallimore (Nudgee), Jack Harley (Nudgee),
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