GPS Team of the Week selections
GPS Rugby Team of the Week latest includes a spark-plug bench player from Nudgee College, the mighty Terrace skipper and tireless backrowers from Churchie, BSHS and TSS.
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A pocket-dynamo off the Nudgee bench headlines our Team of the Week after Nudgee, Toowoomba Grammar, The Southport School and Churchie remained undefeated following the third round of GPS rugby.
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Charlie O’Connell, a Queensland Reds Under 16s (2022) playmaker, came on with just over 10 minutes to go in Nudgee’s game against Gregory Terrace and added a tremendous boost from halfback.
Such is the skillset of O’Connell, he can play both fly half and scrumhalf, or anywhere in the backline where his team needs him.
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On Saturday, the goalkicking O’Connell played halfback while Samuel Watson (starting No. 9) was in the sin bin.
In just 10 minutes on the field, O’Connell had touches in two quick Nudgee tries, a line break and two conversions – one of which was from the left touchline.
The week prior, the energetic O’Connell was again a spark plug off the bench, scoring a try late in the game. Both week’s he had also played a full game of Seconds.
Who joined O’Connell, who we named at scrumhalf, in our GPS First XV rugby round 3 Team of the Week? See below.
TEAM OF THE WEEK
Fullback: Richard Dean (Toowoomba Grammar School)
Dean makes our team again for his elite option taking with the pass or kick, speed when carrying the ball and an ability to turn danger into an attacking platform for his side.
Wing: James Duggan (Nudgee)
The muscular winger who set up a timely Macarius Pereira try with an intercept, and stopped an almost certain try to Charlie Hollyman (Terrace) with his brave blindside defence.
Outside centre: Frankie Goldsbrough (Churchie)
For all the sweat and toil of the Churchie side in defence, it was Goldsbrough who proved the difference. He created his team’s second try with a powerful run, and saved a try soon after with cover defence as BBC looked to close the gap.
Inside centre: Prestyn Laine-Sietu (Nudgee)
Laine-Sietu was at his best on Saturday. Laine-Sietu could be seen rushing up in defence and making strong collisions, and challenging forwards at the breakdown.
Wing: Harry Cool (Churchie)
While both Cool and his wing partner Oscar Harris did not receive a lot of opportunities, the boys contributed to the team’s success. Cool’s aggressive ball carrying, willingness to carry in traffic and in space, and desire to chase Charlie Johnstone’s kicks did not go unnoticed.
Five-eight: Charlie Johnstone (Churchie)
We have one Mr Cool, Harry, in the side and here’s another – meet Charlie “Mr Cool’’ Johnstone. Under pressure Johnsone was at his best against Brisbane Boys College who at one stage spent almost 16 minutes in succession attacking Churchie. His clearing kicks under intense pressure must have been a relief to his exhausted forwards.
Halfback: Charlie O’Connell (Nudgee)
Of course Samuel Watson was elite again for Nudgee, but we named O’Connell as scrumhalf because two weeks in a row he has spearheaded the Nudgee Seconds to wins, before giving the Firsts an injection off the bench.
We were wondering how Nudgee would use him leading into the season and it seems they’ve found the perfect role.
No. 8: PJ Su’a (Terrace)
The pink headgear wearing No. 8 was a different beast for the visitors on Saturday.
He was pinching ball at the breakdown, pilfering his heart out and surging Terrace onto the front foot with his carries.
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GPS RUGBY TEAM OF THE DECADE SO FAR
Flanker: Caleb Godfrey
The Churchie forwards, to a man, were outstanding and all warrant mentions in this company. Skipper Joe Stoddart, No. 8 Max Campbell, both locks and front rowers Diamond Fifita, Hamish Ward and Emil Willie-Jawal deserve equal praise. It was a team effort that got Churchie the win.
But Chutchie was spearheaded by the blue headgear wearing Godfrey who offered strong defence, line out work and work ethic.
Flanker: Will Carter (The Southport School)
Will Carter was tireless in defence, standing tall for 70 minutes.
With accomplices Fergus Gillan and Sebastian Smith-Power, the trio combined in a forwards masterclass which proved the difference.
Lock: Tom Robinson (Terrace)
Without looking at the team list, onlookers would’ve been able to tell the tall, blond-haired backrower was the Gregory Terrace skipper.
He took the most carries and every time he made post contact metres.
Lock: Fergus Gillan (The Southport School)
Ultra consistent with a v8 engine, Gillan was immense yet again for close-game kings TSS.
“Week-in-week-out huge performer” praised assistant coach Mike Wallace.
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Prop: Jovid Aveau (Terrace)
Aveau packs a mean punch, and Nudgee definitely felt it when Terrace was unloading from close range.
How Gregory Terrace didn’t score is a mystery to all except for the brave Nudgee defenders who were cheered on by a vocal Bear Cave.
Hooker: Siale Mahina (BSHS)
The TSS set piece was overwhelming as per usual, but the BSHS hooker was elite, combating their rolling mauls and pile-driving heaves near the tryline, and when moving his team past the advantage line.
Prop: Princeton Ioane (Nudgee)
Like Aveau, Ioane was damaging with his pick-and-drive raids from anywhere on the field.
He was the most destructive forward on the paddock, behind Robinson, before leaving the field in the second half with injury.
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ROUND 1 TEAMS, FEARLESS FORECAST FOR THE PREMIERSHIP
RESERVES
Bailey Trew (BSHS)
You name it, towering outside back Trew had his hand in it. Kick returns, quick lineouts, crucial tackles – he was the man for the job.
Charlie Coffey (TSS)
Coffey is a classic, no-thrills footballer who does every little thing really well and that is exactly what the winger did for TSS at the weekend.
“He gets through the grind, the graft and knows how to score. He gets it done,” lauded assistant coach Mike Wallace after Coffey scored a timely try to seal victory over BSHS.
Sebastian Smith-Power (TSS)
A stoic defender, Smith-Power provided the dominant TSS tight five with boundless energy and a high-work rate.
Diamond Fifita (Churchie)
The big fella resembled a loose forward getting around the park as BBC challenged with the ball, and in support he ran with the freedom of an outside back to score Churchie’s crucial second try.
Mattias Agent (BSHS)
The rangy flanker was first class for BSHS, winning lineouts, and doing the dirty work around the breakdown.
This is the second successive week Agent has been arguably his team’s best player on the ground.
Noah Clifford (Terrace)
Lock Clifford poured every last bit of his energy onto the Ross Oval field in a terrific two-man assault by himself and Robinson.
The backrow pairing ran themselves to a standstill.
Alex Roe (BGS)
Brisbane Grammar School were better than the scoreboard indicated and best of all was tough No. 8 Roe who took no prisoners.
Nathan O’Neill (BBC)
It was a rough and tumble pitched battle upfront and No. 8 O’Neill was to the forefront, doing everything possible to break down the Churchie barrier.
Noah Rauluni (Nudgee)
The mobile breakaway whose quick footwork and powerful leg drive gave Nudgee great go-forward.
Maddox Maclean (Nudgee)
Maclean’s composure, precise general-play kicking, and decision making was top-notch, not to mention he assisted on the try which broke open the battle of the colours.
Charlie Griffiths (Toowoomba Grammar School)
Griffiths again led his tough, uncompromising forwards, winning his lineout, running strongly and helping thread together three or four lethal rolling mauls which propelled his side beyond a gallant Brisbane Grammar School.
Special mentions
Ollie Spence (BGS), a First XI leg spinner and First XV fullback who again displayed plenty of courage and never took the easy option.
Emil Willie-Jawal and Hamish Ward (Churchie) were prop and hooker against BBC and both impacted the match with their lineout work, ball running and rolling maul contributions. Ward deservedly scored his team’s third try.
Blaze Moana (TSS) scored a crucial rolling maul try which sunk BSHS in the later stages of the game.
Jacob Johnson (Nudgee) had some great touches in Nudgee’s best attacking passages of the game.
ROUND 4
BBC v TGS
BSHS v Nudgee
TSS v BGS
IGS v Terrace
Bye: Churchie
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