Here’s 20 speed demons from this season’s GPS First XV rugby along with debut boys for round 3

GPS First XV rugby: Who were the speed demons of the competition? Revealed here, along with round 3 Teams which includes the grandson of a Queensland sporting radio legend making his debut.

Teina Graham and Carter Welfare celebrate a try. GPS First XV rugby between Nudgee College and The Southport School. Saturday July 20, 2024. Picture, John Gass

The son of a Queensland sporting radio legend will make his debut for Terrace in the match against Brisbane Grammar School, while Nudgee will also have a debut boy.

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William Devine, who is a second rower, will make his run-on debut for Terrace at Northgate.

Devine is the grandson of John McCoy, a broadcasting legend in Queensland from the late 1970s through the 1990s. McCoy graduated from Terrace in 1966.

(The real McCoy) Terrace old boy John McCoy in 2020. Pic Jamie Hanson

Nudgee, who confront Churchie at Churchie, will also have a run on debut boy - No.10 Archie Mesritz.

He will replace Charlie O’Connell, but while O’Connell is absent, winger Ethan Grimshaw and flanker Adam Latham return.

Our speed demons list includes Nudgee breakaway Hugo Hart and Brisbane State High School No.8 Roman Siulepa, both of whom were two little known speed kings of the GPS First XV rugby union competition.

Would you believe as forwards, they would give the quickest backs in the competition a run for their money.

Roman Siulepa. GPS First XV rugby between BSHS and Toowoomba Grammar. Saturday July 13, 2024. Picture, John Gass

In a list which includes state and national 100m medallist Ethan Grimshaw (Nudgee) and James Grey (Ipswich Grammar School), both Hart and Siulepa stand head and shoulders over any other forward.

But Hart’s pace would keep the competition’s top speedsters honest in a foot race, like teammates Grimshaw, along with two other swift movers, fullback Jacob Johnson and winger Nicholas Conway.

Hugo Hart. GPS First XV rugby between Nudgee College and The Southport School. Saturday July 20, 2024. Picture, John Gass

Explosive athlete Siulepa is also brisk for a big man once he gets his legs pumping and his arms swinging.

The big fella has already scored a 95m runaway try against Toowoomba Grammar School, and bolted 65m against BBC to set up the match sealing try.

He can motor, don’t worry.

So who are the other speed demons of the GPS Firsts this season?

SPEED DEMONS

Ethan Grimshaw (Nudgee)

Ethan Grimshaw pictured earlier in the year playing Connell Cup Under-17s rugby league for the Norths Devils.

Along with his long time track and field sprint rival from Ipswich Grammar School, James Grey, and Churchie’s William Bloxham, there would not be anyone quicker than Grimshaw. Grimshaw is a genuine dasher over 100m on the track and on the rugby field it translates.

Just wait for the Norths Devils junior representative to see open pastures.

James Grey (IGS)

James Grey for Ipswich Grammar School 1st XV against Toowoomba Grammar School 1st XV in GPS Queensland Rugby round two at TGS Old Boys Oval, Saturday, July 20, 2024. Picture: Kevin Farmer

Grey is Electric with a capital E.

He scored two tries to break the match open against Toowoomba Grammar last weekend.

He has speed you simply cannot coach and watch out if he has a little bit of room in broken play or from a quick shift wide.

Will Bloxham (Churchie)

A house captain at Churchie (Kingsley), Bloxham is a contender for “quickest of all’’ across GPS sport.

It is only a matter of time before the young winger unleashes when the annual GPS track and field championships is staged in Term 4, but for now, Churchie could do with his point of difference pace.

Seth Kennedy (BGS)

It is not every day you have a national track and field champion playing First XV rugby.

Let’s pay homage to the speed of Seth Kennedy, a dynamic 200m sprinter and a gutsy 400m competitor who has won state and national championships.

His Under-15 record breaking performance at last year’s GPS track and field championships was one of the highlights of an extraordinary day of sport.

And he can play rugby as well.

Oli Patterson (Nudgee)

Oli Patterson. GPS First XV rugby between Nudgee College and The Southport School. Saturday July 20, 2024. Picture, John Gass

An Emerging Under-17 Queensland rugby league squad member, Patterson has speed and plenty of it.

He could be in for a bumper year given Nudgee’s endeavour to utilise its outside back quick men, even from inside its defensive’s 50m.

Nudgee’s ability to pressure on kick-chase also gives Patterson and his fullback Jacob Johnson a chance to come into the game on a counter-attack.

Nick Conway (Nudgee)

His father Bob was a First XV weapon and now young Nick, in his second season of First XV rugby, is really flourishing.

A Queensland Reds Under-16s selection last year contracted to the club, Nick is quick off the mark and moves laterally like he weighs nothing.

The athletic outside back, who can create for his teammates like an inside back, is speedy.

Jacob Johnson (Nudgee)

Jacob Johnson. GPS First XV rugby between Nudgee College and The Southport School. Saturday July 20, 2024. Picture, John Gass

Johnson is a thrilling run prospect at the back for Nudgee who can challenge set defences, while shredding a disjointed line on counter attack.

His kick return runs will set the alarm bells off in the opposition camp that is for sure.

Ryder Koia (BBC)

Ryder Koia playing for the Tigers in the Connell Cup competition last year.

There is plenty of speed on the edges for BBC and in the next seven games, winger Ryder Koia and his band of outside backs are sure to show it.

Koia, a Brisbane Tigers junior representative, has gotten bigger and stronger over the off-season but still has the pace to get on the outside of his opponent.

Indeed Brisbane State High scrumhalf Marley Ngatai made a cracking cover tackle to bring Koia to ground in Saturday’s game on Miskin Oval.

Paddy McInally (BSHS)

McInally comes from good pedigree - his father Damian played Super Rugby and was a winger in a Souths club squad that was so strong, it had Queensland and Australian players in second grade in the 1990s - and young McInally is a nice mover as well on the right wing.

He used his speed to keep his rivals in check on the weekend.

Jake Lane (TSS)

GPS First XV rugby between Nudgee College and The Southport School. Saturday July 20, 2024. Picture, John Gass

Lane’s speed was on show for all to see on the Village Green in round one when the busy winger went looking for work in an up-tempo clash between TSS and Terrace.

The wiry left wing sits on the end of a star studded backline and has the defensive capabilities to match his quality finishing ability.

Dylan Terblanche (TSS)

He is quick this kid.

Light on his feet and elusive when he carries the ball in two hands, TSS fullback and Bond Pirates young gun Terblanche is just a quality footballer.

In a round one performance full of involvements, the vision and soft hands of Terblanche set up TSS’s first try of the season, scored by Lane, in just the second minute.

It was a piece of magic down the narrow blindside.

Jackson Hill (BSHS)

Jackson Hill (centre) and teammates picture in round one of the season.

He just had to be in this company.

After all, Hill did score the telling try which put space between BSHS and BBC in round two after he followed Siulepa and Angus Tagicakibau downfield before scooping up loose ball and evading the last line of defence to dive in.

He has wheels.

Myles Rosemond (TGS)

Myles Rosemond (left) celebrates his try for Toowoomba Grammar School 1st XV against Ipswich Grammar School 1st XV in GPS Queensland Rugby round two at TGS Old Boys Oval, Saturday, July 20, 2024. Picture: Kevin Farmer

First glimpsed by the wider public as an electric wing finisher at last year’s Emerging Reds Cup at Ballymore, North Queensland flyer Rosemond has certainly made an impact in two games so far this season.

A Brothers Townsville junior, Rosemond could not be caught when streaking away for a 67m intercept try at the weekend where he pipped James Grey to the line with a telling in-and-away step 5m from the tryline.

Finn Kendall (IGS)

Finn Kendall for Ipswich Grammar School 1st XV against Toowoomba Grammar School 1st XV in GPS Queensland Rugby round two at TGS Old Boys Oval, Saturday, July 20, 2024. Picture: Kevin Farmer

Year 11 student Kendall did on the job training in the First XV last season as a Year 10 student, and is one of the go-to players of the backline this season in a dangerous IGS outfit.

The Broncos Academy ace shows his wheels each week, but it became more apparent when as a 15-year-old early last year he made a fullfield trysaving tackle in an Ipswich Jets Connell Cup game at the North Ipswich Reserve.

Amaziah Murgha (IGS)

Amaziah Murgha of IGS. GPS First XV rugby, Toowoomba Grammar School v Ipswich Grammar School.

A boarder from the sporting rich Yarrabah region in North Queensland, Murgha was a thrilling outside back threat with his speed.

Outstanding in club rugby league over the summer and autumn, Murgha was a game-changing interchange player for IGS in round two and has not reached top speed yet this season.

Saia Poese (Terrace)

Saia Poese (right) in the Queensland City versus Country Under-17s game earlier this year. Picture: Queensland Rugby League/ Erick Lucero.

Poese is not a speed demon per say.

He is a fast, light on his feet centre, wing or fullback who loses no speed when he stops on a dime and goes again.

It is for that reason Poese is one of the most deadly players in broken play this season, the fleet-footed outside centre as slippery as they come when angling back infield from his wider channel.

Sam Russell (Terrace)

Russell was a contender for the Firsts last year until injury had its say, but the diminutive winger is making up for lost time to impact games for Terrace The Brave.

A finisher in the mould of a young Paul Carozza (former Wallaby and current Reds Head of Talent Management), Russell used his pace in round 1 to save a try with a classic chase and try saving tackle, and then used his speed in round 2 to score the try that sealed victory.

George Joseph (Terrace)

There was plenty of pace on the other wing as well, with elite track runner George Joseph a speed demon over a longer distance.

Once he gets going, the big bodied Joseph is pace personified

He is someone who musters more speed with each long stride.

Treyvon Pritchard (Churchie)

Treyvon Pritchard. GPS First XV rugby round one action between BGS and Churchie.

Treyvon Pritchard is fast and he has the creativity to get himself into a game and use his speed to burst through himself or create an overlap for others.

The Queensland Reds contracted young gun is a broken play king and once he gets moving he will be hard to track down.

Kingston Seve (TSS)

Kingston Seve. GPS First XV rugby between Nudgee College and The Southport School. Saturday July 20, 2024. Picture, John Gass

The athletic Seve is a schoolboy prodigy who has added size to his frame - all the while retaining that dynamic pace which helped separate him from others in his junior footy.

Give him front foot ball and TSS supporters will rise to their feet in anticipation.

Elijah Breen (BGS)

Elijah Breen. GPS First XV rugby round one action between BGS and Churchie.

A wonderful footballer who has a high rugby IQ, Breen is also a slick mover carrying the ball.

He would be BGS’s second quickest player and a great contributor to the team’s campaign in what is his second season in the First XV.

He is a courageous player as well who plays rugby league at the Brisbane Tigers.

ROUND THREE TEAM LISTS

Churchie v Nudgee (Bold is TBC)

Churchie: 1. Kasper Tammela, 2. Harry Solofa, 3. Sio Kite, 4. Caleb Godfrey, 5. Sam Williams, 6. Tom Wood, 7. George Ward, 8. Jye Crothers, 9. Hugh Rylance, 10. Fletcher Austin, 11. Will Bloxham, 12. Max Blanch, 13. Liam Gordon, 14. Oliver Chancellor, 15. Treyvon Pritchard.

Nudgee: 1. Isaac Rauluni, 2. John Grenfell (c), 3. Levi Slater, 4. Bennett Armistead, 5. Ed Kasprowicz, 6. Adam Latham, 7. Hugo Hart, 8. Teina Graham, 9. Sam Watson, 10. Archie Mesritz, 11. Oli Paterson, 12. Max Rohan, 13. Nick Conway, 14. Ethan Grimshaw, 15. Jacob Johnson.

BGS v Terrace (Bold is TBC)

Terrace: 1. Alec Weir, 2. Cody Harkins, 3. Charlie Hollyman, 4. Charlie Cross, 5. William Devine, 6. Rupert McGrath, 7. Archer Ilott, 8. Nate Wines, 9. George Hales, 10. Sam McGahan, 11. Sam Russell, 12. Connor Clifford, 13. Saia Poese, 14. George Joseph, 15. Joe McGahan.

BGS: 1. Barry Smith, 2. Tim Alport, 3. Tristian Knudsen (vc), 4. Oli Akhavan, 5. Sam Bolam, 6. Lincoln Manuel, 7. Lincoln Dalton, 8. Dyer Akauola, 9. Flynn Horton, 10. Zac Reader ©, 11. Seth Kennedy, 12. Tom Siganto, 13. Max Romer, 14. Liam Huntly, 15. Elijah Breen.

IGS v BBC (Bold is TBC)

IGS: 1. H Hattingh, 2. Jean-Paul Sia, 3. William Pamenter (C), 4. Mostyn Bowen, 5. Harry Scheibel, 6. Jack Calleja, 7. Tannar Baker, 8. Ezalle Matautia, 9. Joseph Post (vice-captain), 10. Tyson Walker, 11. Brock Coombes, 12. Finn Kendall, 13. James Grey, 14. Marlon Frost, 15. Hemi Rakuita

BBC: 1. Oscar Donovan, 2. Lucas Bakker, 3. Conrad Scott, 4. Cooper Eagle, 5. Tavita Loughland, 6. Gray O’Neill, 7. Tyler Maybery, 8. Austen Neame, 9. Isaac Kefu, 10. Toby Kennedy, 11. DJ Colaivalu, 12. Frank Howarth, 13. Tai Taka, 14. Ryder Koia, 15. Andres Ayache

TSS v TGS

TSS: 1. Kingsley Uys, 2. Blaze Moana (C), 3. Jonah Rangiwai, 4. Hayden Keldie-Genner, 5. Daniel Wells, 6. Viliami Fifita, 7. Clint Hoare, 8. Agapetos Lote-Felo, 9. Tom Goldie (VC), 10. Dallas Ingram, 11. Jake Lane, 12. Eli Vea, 13. Kilarney Lavender, 14. Kingston Seve, 15. Dylan Terblanche.

TGS: 1. Archie Campbell, 2. Ruben Kruger, 3. Harrison Humphreys, 4. Sebastian Hepner, 5. Rupeni Baravilala, 6.Ethan Ramsay 7. Joe Gray (Capt), 8. Thomas Bailey, 9. Jack Brown, 10. Illy Baravilala, 11. Adam Davis, 12. Trace Beattie 13. Azariah Toki-Mautairi, 14. Ben Burgess, 15. Myles Rosemond.