GPS First XV rugby Team of the Week revealed
The GPS First XV rugby Team of the Week includes a dynamic Nudgee College flanker, a three-try-hero from Ipswich Grammar and a classy Churchie fly half who spearheaded his side to victory in the latest round.
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It’s perfect timing that dynamic Nudgee College flanker Noah Rauluni is excelling with the Rugby World Cup almost upon us.
Rauluni is the son of Jacob Rauluni, the former Queensland Reds halfback who played at three World Cups for Fiji in 1995, 1999 and 2003.
Young Noah is breaking with family tradition by playing in the forwards because his late grandfather Taito played as a halfback for both Queensland and his home land of Fiji.
Father Jacob came through the GPS system as well as a high achiever at Brisbane State High.
Flanker Noah makes our round 6 Team of the Week below ahead of a round 7 with blockbuster games between Nudgee and Churchie and Toowoomba Grammar and TSS.
Both games can decide the premiership.
Currently, TSS, Churchie, TGS and Nudgee have all lost one game.
POINTS TABLE
TSS 10 (bye game remaining)
TGS 8
CHURCHIE 8
NUDGEE 8
BBC 4
BSHS 4
GT 4
IGS 2
BGS 0
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15. Jacob Johnson (Nudgee)
Johnson was at the peak of his powers at the weekend, giving the BBC defenders grief when counterattacking.
Every time he ran the ball he created an overlap with his ability to draw-and-pass and get on the outside of his defenders.
He is having an incredible season.
14. Brock Coombes (Ipswich Grammar)
It doesn’t get much better than three tries and a win and that is what Coombes enjoyed on Saturday when Ipswich Grammar recorded their first win of the season.
Scored a ripping 60 metre intercept try following a great defensive read.
13. Xavier Rubens (BBC)
The rowing superstar hit his strap in round 6 with strong carries, solid defence and great line running to move BBC over the advantage line.
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12. Angus Kelly (Terrace)
Kelly has been a revelation this season with his at times impenetrable defence.
He muscled up again on the weekend to nullify damaging Brisbane State High strike weapons of Tauave Leofa, Netani Lesimaikimatuku and Joshua Takai.
11. Laquan Afamiliona (BSHS)
The light footwork and IQ of the Brisbane State High fullback was impressive on a windy Tennyson afternoon where Nick Dunstan (Terrace fullback) used his kicking game.
Afamiliona was safe under the high ball, direct with his kick returns and he knew when to pin the ears back or spread the ball to his teammates.
10. Charlie Johnstone (Churchie)
The masterful Churchie fly half showed his true colours against the TSS giant and when it mattered most, he stepped up to the plate.
His kicking, passing and running was a class above and it was clear as day that this was his second year guiding the Churchie First XV.
9. Bailey Pell (BSHS)
His speed of delivery and pressure in set piece defence was unrivalled. Churchie scrum half
Hugh Rylancechallenged for this spot but we went with Pell by width of a tissue paper.
challenged for this spot but we went with Pell by width of a tissue paper.
8. PJ Su’a (Terrrace)
The Terrace No.8 was a monster. He left BSHS defenders in his wake as he stormed up field with his first carry and his last.
In bright pink headgear, the powerful Su’a could not be missed.
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7. Noah Rauluni (Nudgee)
The athletic Nudgee breakaway had a cracking showing against what is a top notch BBC forward pack.
Nathan O’Neill, Tyler Mayberry, Gray O’Neill just to name a few – and Rauluni was like one and a half players such were his energy levels.
6. Hugo Hart (Nudgee)
The muscular blindside flanker scored three of Nudgee’s four tries and he had to work for all three of them.
He was the best forward on Ross Oval.
5. Jack Gordon (BSHS)
He played No.8 but we named him at lock to fit the best players in the starting side.
He could play lock with ease.
4. Genesis Iuli (BSHS) played 6
Iuli played blindside flanker and led the way for BSHS with his intensity.
He got through a mountain of work on game day.
3. Alexander Schumacher and William Pamenter (Ipswich Grammar)
The Ipswich Grammar front rowers were overwhelming and with their pick-and-drives they thrusted their side onto the front foot so that Coombes could cash in out wide.
2. Jean-Paul Sia (Ipswich Grammar)
The Year 11 hooker continued his bold 2023 campaign with a showing that head of rugby Nigel Greive commended post game.
On Saturday Greive said this about Year 11 front rowers Sia, Schumacher and Pamenter: “The Year 11 front rowers scrummaged well … Between them they had some very strong carries.
Indeed Sia’s cleaning out was incredible, his passing crisp and scrummaging strong.
1. Diamond Fifita and Emil Willie-Jawai (Churchie)
The Churchie front rowers worked overtime in the scrum and from close-range to suck TSS defenders in.
They are consistently impressive and hooker
Hamish Wardwas a titan as well.
was a titan as well.
RESERVES
Harrison Angel (BBC)
The BBC lock was here, there and everywhere for the visitors.
He was a defensive brute who his team could also rely on in the line out and when carrying the ball.
Max Blanch (Churchie)
Blanch was a force on both sides of the ball, bending the TSS defensive line with his crash running and defending the likes of Billy Tonkin and Mason King as if the season was on the line.
It was and Blanch rose to the occasion with brave defensive efforts. It was a similar story for Frankie Goldsbrough who had a try and a try assist.
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Nathan Fraser (Ipswich Grammar)
This year’s competition is littered with star flyhalfs and Fraser is leading the charge.
A flame-haired Emerging Reds Cup talent, Fraser has oozed class since round 1 against TSS and was classy again when he spearheaded Ipswich Grammar to their first win of the year.
Sebastian Smith-Power (TSS)
The tall workhorse could be seen making repeat efforts and at times you wondered will he ever get tired.
He has a V8 engine and is willing to do whatever he can for the team. It would not come as a surprise to see him pop up in the Queensland Reds’ representative teams over the spring.
He has upside.
Amare Milford (TSS)
Late in the game when TSS needed a score, Milford was excellent at making post contact metres.
In the first half he scored a try spearing off the scrum but he came alive in the final quarter when his team needed a boost. Prop Kingsley Uys was destructive through the middle of the field also.
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Billy Wellard (TSS)
Like Smith-Power, flanker Wellard was tireless. He challenged breakdowns, made linebreaks, and defended with a fire to him.
Will Pascoe (BGS)
The Brisbane Grammar lock has been a shining light this season, performing week-in-week-out.
On Saturday he scored and was tireless in a courageous 70 minute effort.
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Billy Tonkin and Mason King (TSS)
The TSS centres were brilliant going head-to-head against the likes of Max Blanch and Frankie Goldsbrough.
Both full of muscle, Tonkin and King crashed down the Churchie defences and were always a threat when the ball swung their way.
King, off a Tonkin assist, had a highlight reel try which you had to see to believe.
Spencer Alcock (TSS)
Goal-kicking Alcock was a 9/10 at fly half. He was incredible with his exits, and when his opposition threw their hands up in a charge down attempt, he swiftly tucked the ball under his wing and dashed away to gain extra metres.
That was cheeky from the head-geared lefty, and the only reason he wasn’t a 10/10 was because his field-goal attempt to win the game missed by the smallest of margins.
Nick Dunstan (Terrace)
The Terrace fullback did a great job turning the backs of his BSHS rivals.
He kicked to the corners and this was instrumental, especially in the final twenty minutes, as Terrace looked to keep BSHS out of their danger zone and prevent them from landing a late try which would have stolen victory.
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