Hospital Cup Premier Rugby grand finals GPS v University
Club rugby grand final day: Another Tuqiri aims for premiership success as two great Fijian family members unit chase the Hospital Cup Premier rugby title.
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They have deep family roots and have lived parallel lives - now GPS duo Emosi Tuqiri and Christopher Kuridani are united again in a push to win the Hospital Cup Premier rugby grand final on Sunday.
Tuqiri, cousin of dual international Lote Tuqiri, will play front row while Kuridani will be a midfield spearhead as the Galloping Greens try to beat traditional grand final powerhouse University at Suncorp Stadium.
The pair have a remarkable relationship.
Both their families originate from a tiny village of Namatakula on Fiji’s Coral Coast, a slice of paradise where women wash clothes in the fast flowing creek and men fish on the coral reef and in the lagoon.
Emosi’s father, Elia and uncles Lote senior and Tukula - all outstanding Brisbane first grade players - were raised in the village before moving to Brisbane in the 1970s and early 1980s to play firstly with QUT, but mostly with the GPS club.
The village of Namatakula was also where Kuridani’s father, former Queensland winger Isei Siganiyavi, was born and later discovered by ex-Wallaby hooker and GPS coach Chris Carberry who organised for him to play at GPS in the late 1980s.
The families’ associations continued around the tightly knit Fijian community in Brisbane where Emosi Tuqiri and Christopher Kuridani were never far apart.
Indeed when Christopher Kuridani, 29, first started playing Premier rugby, Emosi Tuqiri, 20, was the team’ ball boy.
“I have been a ball boy here since I was under 10 years old and half my team mates today would have been playing colts and grade. And now I get to play with them every Saturday afternoon which is pretty cool,’’ Tuqiri said.
Kuridani added: “I remember when I started at GPS Emosi’s older brother Elia (junior) was running around Emosi was our ball boy.’’
And now the pair are trying to do something their fathers could not - win a premiership for GPS.
“When I got home (on Sunday night after the semi-final win) I knew dad wouldn’t say much and that is when you know it means a lot to him,’’ Emosi said.
Kuridani will be hoping for “third time lucky success’’ after playing in beaten GPS grand final teams in 2013 and 2017.
“I think our semi-final win over Wests makes it more of an occasion, because it was just like a movie, and sets it up even more,’’ he said in reference to GPS’ remarkable come from behind 41-39 victory last weekend.
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University enter the grand final after a typically tight semi-final tussle with Brothers and believe they are better for the club’s 2020 grand final loss to Easts.
“We had a few glaring weaknesses last season but got away with a few things,’’ said University captain Pat Morrey.
“So this year there has been a big focus on our scrum and lineout and our set piece, trying to be a dominant and a competitive force at that.
“We are not the biggest team, but aim to be the fastest and the most skilful.’’
He said this season No.8 Lona Halaholo, who joined the Red Heavies from New Zealand, had been a “wrecking ball’’ with his go forward.
He also reserved praise for club stalwart Kye Oates who has been a regular on the score sheet this season.
SEASON AWARDS
Highest Points Scorer: Nathan Carroll – Brothers
Highest Try Scorer: BJ Oates – University of Queensland
Bunter Bowl: GPS – GPS (accepted by Matt Gicquel)
Welsby Cup: GPS – GPS (accepted by Matt Gicquel)
Horsley Cup (Minor Premiership): University of Queensland (accepted by Pat Morrey)
Doughty Shield (Club Championship): Easts (Accepted by Tom Milosevic)
U20s Colts Player of the Year: Floyd Aubrey - GPS
Women’s Player of the Year: Ivania Wong - Sunnybank
Alec Evans Medallist: Shared - Liam McNamara (Sunnybank) and Kye Oates (UQ)
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