GPS First XV rugby: Team of the Week from round four unveiled here
The round 4 GPS First XV rugby Team of the Week recognises three sons of Queensland sporting guns, while also featuring a ‘generational talent’ from Churchie. Revealed here.
Local sport
Don't miss out on the headlines from Local sport. Followed categories will be added to My News.
The names Latham, Kefu and Kasprowicz were household names in Queensland sport during the 1990s and early 2000s, and two decades later those names have bubbled into the limelight again.
Adam Latham, whose father Chris was a champion Queensland and Wallaby fullback, and Ed Kasprowicz, whose father Michael was a Test cricket ironman and Queensland Bulls champion, continued to shine for unbeaten Nudgee this season.
And over at Brisbane’ Boys College, scrumhalf Isaac Kefu was a slick performer in his team’s 46-38 win over The Southport School.
Kefu is the son of Wallaby No. 8 great Toutai Kefu, who is ironically co-coach of BSHS alongside his brother Steve.
All three boys made the round 4 Team of the Week and were chiselling out their own sporting reputations in the prestigious GPS First XV competition, alongside Churchie fullback Treyvon Pritchard.
The explosive Australian Under-16s selection last year was a handful up on the range against Toowoomba Grammar, having his say in three tries.
And the best is yet to come for the promising Year 11 student who Churchie coach Andrew Brownhill said was a “generational talent”.
Brownhill has coached here there and everywhere, including in Sydney coaching Waratahs academy sides and in the United Kingdom where he worked with Gloucester and Worcester’s rugby academies, and he admitted young Pritchard was the most exciting player he had seen.
“I have not seen a talent, someone of his ability, in a very, very long time,” said Brownhill.
“I have worked with Glouster rugby in the academy, Worcester Warriors in the academy, obviously two premiership clubs back home. A lot of boys sort of 13-18 and they were coming from some of the best schools in those regions of the United Kingdom.
“Even when I was involved in the Scottish pathways I saw some pretty cool Scotland 18s players, some very talented ability but Trey is a generational talent. I have not seen someone of that ability.
“He is pretty special.”
Brownhill said the only players he had come across in the realm of Pritchard were Louis Rees-Zammit (Gloucester), the former British and Irish Lions wing now playing for the Kansas City Chiefs in the NFL.
Explosive English midfielder Ollie Lawrence (Worcester) was another who Brownhill likened Pritchard to, as well as Wallaby Max Jorgensen, the St Joseph’s College schoolboy phenom Brownhill coached in 2022 when the then Year 12 played for the Waratahs Under-18s.
Pritchard’s footwork, turn of speed and IQ was not the only thing that stood out however - his leadership was also to be admired, according to Brownhill.
“How he is around the school like a role model … How committed he is to his studies and how he is a role model to the younger kids at the school stands out a mile.”
TEAM OF THE WEEK
Fullback Treyvon Pritchard (Churchie)
Pritchard was at his dangerous best with his offloading, sidestepping and ball playing to the fore as Churchie turned it on early in the second half.
The younger brother of Australian Under-20s outside centre Kadin, Treyvon continued his stellar campaign with an array of good touches in scoring passages.
Wing: Amaziah Murgha (IGS)
Murgha was the most dangerous player on the field who relished the room to rove from fullback.
His speed, the timing of his runs and passes and vision contributed to BSHS’s anguish.
The creation of his own try down a wide blind side was classy.
Outside centre: Kilarney Lavender (TSS)
If their team is behind, some players go into their shell and wait for the game to come to them.
For TSS outside centre Kilarney Lavender it is the complete opposite, with the destructive second year First XV player looking for work and getting involved.
Lavender scored a brilliant inidivdual try, helped set up another with a bustling run and was a defensive work horse from the outset in a first class performance.
Inside centre: Eli Vea (TSS)
Lavender’s damaging midfield partner Eli Vea has been faultless to start the season and on Saturday was elite again with his line running and ball playing at inside centre.
He is a great crash runner who got TSS over the advantage line well and then fronted up on defence when BBC were on the prowl.
Wing: Nick Conway (Nudgee)
Nudgee winger Nick Conway may be GPS rugby’s most dangerous attacking player.
The headgear wearing left winger ran for the most metres of any player in the match against Brisbane Grammar and was a constant danger down the touch line.
Conway beat multiple defenders to score Nudgee’s opening try and did the hard work for several other scores only for teammates to finish.
Flyhalf: Fletcher Austin (Churchie)
Promising Year 11 flyhalf Fletcher Austin broke out to have his best game of the season, and even eclipsed his best showing last year when he was the Firsts playmaker at just 15 years of age.
Austin was at his best in Toowoomba, setting up a handful of long distance tries and generally organising his team into a winning position.
Halfback: Isaac Kefu (BBC)
Just like last year when the school had James Martens and Jamie Alexander to choose from, there is Isaac Kefu and Stanley Keats - two exceptional young scrumhalves.
On Saturday, Kefu made his third start of the season and had his best game where on multiple occasions he made the right read to shift the ball wide into space.
To set up two telling tries in the second half, Kefu found the freakish Tai Taka storming onto the ball and then found Andres Ayache soon after with a pin point cut out pass that called game.
No. 8: Adam Latham (Nudgee)
Latham played flanker, but we named him at No. 8 to get last weekend’s best in the top squad.
The son for former Reds and Wallaby fullback Chris, the wide running No. 8 scored two tries, one of which was a contender for GPS try of the season.
Flanker: Trent Picot (BSHS)
Picot was up to his old tricks of pinching opposition possession while never giving the IGS forward a free kick at the breakdown.
One thing about Picot is whenever he takes a ball into contact, rest assured he will present it back to his support forwards and halfback on a platter.
Flanker: Gray O’Neill (BBC)
“Unflappable” according to BBC rugby director Todd Dammers, goalkicking open side flanker Gray O’Neill was again a player of note in a high scoring back-and-forth encounter with TSS.
O’Neill slotted multiple sideline conversions, was influential in the set piece, and made the unlikely offload which led to Frank Howarth scoring the ultimate dagger to ensure an Old Boys Day triumph for the home side.
Lock: Ed Kasprowicz (Nudgee)
The seed of Nudgee’s thumping was planted by destructive aerial performer Ed Kasprowicz, a second year First XV lock who you’d turn to if you needed something picked off the top shelf, or a lineout won in a time of need.
The Reds Under-16s select last year started the season in mid season form and is doing the little things right for premiership pace setters Nudgee.
Lock: Bennet Armistead (Nudgee)
Kasprowicz’ right hand man and twin tower Bennett Armistead is having himself a fine debut season in the First XV.
The Australian Under-16s select was faultless in the set piece which allowed Nudgee backs Nick Conway, Jacob Johnson and their teammates to light a fuse on Ross Oval.
Prop: Will Pamenter (IGS)
Pamenter produced a captain’s knock with an all effort performance.
He courageously took on the BSHS pack with his carries and stood like a member of the King’s Guard on the defensive line.
No BSHS forward was going to get it over Pamenter. Both he and his prop partner, H Hattingah, who we mention as a reserve, should be unsung no more.
Hooker: Tyler Maybery (BBC)
Mr Versatile was front and centre when BBC conjured up a strong start to Saturday’s spectacle.
An incredible athlete who could play in the front row and in the backrow, Maybery was elite scoring two rolling maul tries and scrummaging against arguably the best scrum the competition has to offer in TSS.
Prop: Blaze Moana (TSS)
Moana was his usual self throwing straight into the lineout and applying scoreboard pressure with his at times unstoppable rolling maul efforts.
Twice he scored tries and they were not easy, the TSS captain spearing off a rolling maul to dive over and give TSS much needed points.
The third year TSS hooker could be picked in the Team of the Week every round that is how consistent he is.
RESERVES
George Ward (Churchie)
Against an amped up TGS pack with Tom Bailey, Joe Gray and Rupeni Baravilala battling hard, flanker Ward was superb in the loose channels and a real menace at the breakdown.
He set the tone for Churchie’s pack.
Tyson Walker (IGS)
While he never cracked the game open, he was a constant threat to the BSHS defence with his run, pass or kick.
It was a sustained, nicely balanced performance against quality opposition.
He also owned the moment which most thought had won the match for IGS - a late penalty goal from wide out.
Roman Siulepa (BSHS)
The tall, athletic No. 8 was restricted to playing just half a match in the Firsts after being in Tasmania all week, but he made an impact with his second half appearance.
It was his collection of a Seamus Boakes kick off which gifted BSHS the ball that eventually led to Boakes’ last second winning penalty goal.
Although well tackled by IGS in general play, he never failed to unload possession, nearly always resulting in BSHS advancing their gain.
Ezalle Matautia (IGS)
Matautia was a man on a mission who took it upon himself to lead from the front against the big BSHS pack. While his teammates display the will and the want, Matautia also contributed the muscle and thrust to the IGS forward effort.
Adam Davis (TGS)
Speedy left wing Adam Davis was responsible for two special first half tries which got the home side off to a flyer.
After his fantastic finishing early in the game, Davis continued to impact the game alongside Myles Rosemond, Rhymen Tusi and Ili Baravilala.
Seamus Boakes (BSHS)
Boakes just had to make our squad of the week, if for no other reason that for his angled penalty goal that raised his side to a 23-22 win.
Ironically Boakes missed a conversion on the same side of the field from a much more adjacent position only 15 minutes earlier, but he confidently booted the goal that mattered most.
Marley Ngatai (BSHS)
Ngatai was cool under considerable pressure. His service was lovely, but he was brave enough to run himself or box kick his team out of trouble.
It was a nice, well rounded performance by him.
Dallas Ingram (TSS)
Flyhalf was the hottest contested position this week with Fletcher Austin and Tyson Walker playing strongly.
Over at BBC, Ingram was elite with his game management and turn of speed.
A playmaker in rugby league, Ingram seems to know his job back to front in the 15-a-side game and in round four his excellent organisation of ball runners was evident.
Elijah Breen (BGS)
In a well beaten side, Breen stood tall to be Brisbane Grammar’s most potent attacking player.
The kicking game of Breen was again high class and he kept asking questions for 70 minutes.
Max Blanch (Churchie)
While Churchie’s enterprising attack often started with Fletcher Austin and finished with Treyvon Pritchard, it was inside centre Max Blanch who was the key man.
The most integral player in Churchie’s backline, Blanch’s crash running, side stepping and ball playing again showed why, if needed, coach Brownhill could play him at fullback.
SPECIAL MENTIONS:
Andres Ayache (BBC)
Andres Ayache scored the monumental try which put a crevasse between BBC and TSS and before that was a plucky customer who won a penalty at the breakdown, kicked well and made no mistakes.
H Hattingah (IGS)
Like his skipper Pamenter, mentioned earlier, Hattingah was a tradesmen who delivered all game with his runs and tackles.
He just kept coming at BSHS with the ball or presenting for duty in the defensive line.
Jack Calleja (IGS)
The flanker played tough and left nothing in the tank, helping work the visitors back into the contest after BSHS had stolen a 12-nil advantage.
Tyrece Herniman (BSHS)
Herniman produced a two try performance, but around that he was strong with his carries, support play at the break down and tackles against a relentless IGS pack.
Joseph Post (IGS)
Jean-Paul Sia (IGS)
Jacob Johnson (Nudgee)
Harry Scheibel (IGS)
Jesse Maugatai (BSHS)
Kingsley Uys (TSS)
Tanner Baker (IGS)
Mostyn Bowen (IGS)
Zac Reader (BGS)
Hayden Keldie-Genner (TSS)
Dan Wells (TSS)
Dylan Terblanche (TSS)
Jake Lane (TSS)
Toby Kennedy (BBC)
Andres Ayache (BBC)
Conrad Scott (BBC)
Will Bloxham (Churchie)
Joey Gray (TGS)
Trace Beattie (TGS)
Myles Rosemond (TGS)
ROUND 5
Terrace v Nudgee
The Southport School v BSHS
BGS v Toowoomba Grammar
Churchie v Brisbane Boys College
Bye: Ipswich Grammar School
Revealed: Four words that inspired Qld teen sensation’s meteoric rise
In one of the first interviews of his already mind-blowing career, Queensland teen sprint sensation Gout Gout reveals exactly what has spurred him on the track to becoming Australia’s fastest man – and possible greatness.
8 Qld rugby rookies you have to know about: Reds schoolboy on roving mission
A Reds-signed schoolboy who made an impression in the Super Rugby Under-16s competition has been named in the Australian U16s squad, alongside seven other Queenslanders. More here on who was picked and why.