Nudgee College flanker and Team of the Week selection clocks ridiculous speed in win over BBC
An astonishing Nudgee College First XV rugby forward clocked Olympic sprinters’ pace on his way to scoring last Saturday. Who joins him in the round 8 Team of the Week is revealed here.
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Nudgee College breakaway Hugo Hart has been recorded running 9.8m per second during an astonishing burst of speed against Brisbane Boys’ College last Saturday.
Hart clocked the time one his way to scoring one of two tries as the defending champions prepared for Saturday’s round 9 GPS First XV grand final against fellow unbeaten side, Brisbane State High School, on Ross Oval.
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Hart, who played in last season’s First XV premiership winning team, had received some counter attacking ball, this time from winger Oliver Patterson and fullback Jacob Johnston, and his speed for a big man was breathtaking.
Now we know why after data clocked him at Olympic sprinters pace.
Hart is a boarder who originally joined Nudgee in Year 7, left for overseas with his family, before returning as a Year 10 student when he made one of the Brisbane under-16 representative rugby teams.
While abroad in the USA, Hart added to his athletic development by playing gridiron.
Last year the promising open side flanker helped Nudgee to the premiership and not surprisingly Hart made the Round 8 Team of the Week after playing a key role in his team’s 54-21 win over BBC.
ROUND EIGHT TEAM OF THE WEEK
15. Jacob Johnson (Nudgee)
The lethal fullback was off like a flash with the ball on counter attack and his blinding pace turned defence into attack before you could blink.
14. Nick Conway (Nudgee)
Nick Conway was a joint partner in the lethal back three of Oliver Patterson and Jacob Johnston who threatened all match with counter attack.
But he was not just a finisher – his chase game of Charlie O’Connell or Johnson’s clearing kicks put pressure on the opposition’s Retrieval plans.
13 Amaziah Murgha (Ipswich Grammar)
Remember the name Amaziah Murgha.
He is a genuine quick and you can’t coach pace. He utilised his explosive speed in Saturday’s Old Boys Day battle against Brisbane Grammar to set up a 70m special score by fellow speedster James Grey.
Then, to open up a 31-12 lead, Murgha broke the line and found Finn Kendall on his inside. When you thought he couldn’t get any better he conjured a 85m try scored by Brock Coombes.
12. Max Blanch (Churchie)
He did something few can do – he shut down TSS’s dynamic mid field with all-embracing defence.
In attack he’d go to the line with the ball in two hands and was prepared to take a hit to try and put his teammates into half a hole.
He was Churchie’s main man in attack and defence, yet again.
11. Angus Tagicakibau (Brisbane State High)
The Brisbane State High fullback looked like he could have broken away and scored on multiple occasions and only desperate last-gasp tackles stopped him for absolutely torching Gregory Terrace.
The trusty headgear wearing No.15 was the most dynamic back on the field.
10. Charlie O’Connell (Nudgee)
Charlie O’Connell’s astute tactical kicking, which included attacking kicks, mixed up the Nudgee attack around his superb passing and running game.
It was around his game Nudgee built its empire.
9. Sam Watson (Nudgee)
Sam Watson’s pass from the base of the ruck launched Nudgee on their way. The quality of his work rewarded his forwards and gift wrapped his No.10 O’Connell with clean ball.
Watson’s peach of a pass created the first try and it only got better from there.
8. Roman Siulepa (BSHS)
No. 8 Roman Siulepa forced defenders to do absolutely everything in their power to contain him and still finished with two tries from close range.
He’s the most athletic and skilful tall forward prospect to emerge from the competition in the last 15 years.
7. Lincoln Dalton (BGS)
Just like how the trackers caught Nudgee flanker Hugo Hart running at ridiculous speed, the trackers would have caught Brisbane Grammar Year 10 flanker Dalton doing a half marathon on Saturday afternoon.
The workaholic open side was the first to the breakdown, an astute defender, support runner and lineout disrupter who gave his all from start to finish.
6. Hugo Hart (Nudgee)
Hugo Hart’s speed and handling gave Nudgee an extra back, whether as a support player or finisher, but he was also a primary forward with his leg drive in contact that ensured Nudgee always had momentum at the breakdown when he tucked the ball under his arm.
The quickest forward in the competition, he was also a line out option.
5. Dan Wells (TSS)
Wells worked his backside off in TSS’s rolling maul plays and lineouts and was joined to the hip of his ball carriers from the outset.
The reliable second rower got his side rolling at times when he could unleash his right to left step and if he wasn’t running you best believe he was doing his best to give scrumhalf Tom Goldie clean ball with his clean-outs.
4. Eli Langi (Brisbane State High)
Eli Langi showed plenty of ability in the open field, running a great support line and offloading for halfback Marley Ngatai’s second half try.
Around that magic moment the tall, mobile lock got around the park like a back and was key in Brisbane State High’s lineouts.
3 Sio Kite (Churchie)
The hulking 15-year-old finished his fine debut season in destructive style last weekend.
He opened the scoring for the visitors with an unstoppable pick-and-drive and nullified TSS’s scrum and rolling maul efforts with a stirring performance from tighthead prop.
2. John Grenfell (Nudgee)
Grenfell was enormous again with his robust carries and defensive work. His impenetrable tackling off BBC line out wins blocked rivals and when he hit players advancing from pick and drives, they stayed hit.
1. Charlie Hollyman (Terrace)
Terrace went within a whisker of upsetting BSHS and the big fellow was front and centre, leading Terrace’s resistance. Part of a relatively unheralded front row, he fiercely carried the ball and fought hard at contact to deliver quality possession back to his teammates.
RESERVES
Joseph Post (Ipswich SHS)
The inform Ipswich Grammar halfback controlled the tempo of the game for his side behind his big men and offered clean distribution.
He led Ipswich Grammar onto the front foot and deservedly scored a try.
Ollie Nasser (Terrace)
Robust and fearless with the ball, he had plenty of carries against a big, strong pack. As a Year 11 captain he rallied his troops in an away game against a side eyeing off the premiership. He also produced stopping defence.
Dyer Akauola (BGS)
A powerhouse effort to score Brisbane Grammar’s second last try eclipsed yet another superb showing from the promising Year 10 student.
A No.8, Akauola is in the Dolphins NRL Academy and he showed why with his powerful leg drive, soft hands, angled runs and brute strength playing a big part in Brisbane Grammar’s spirited performance.
Isaac Rauluni (Nudgee)
Having loosehead Isaac Rauluni is like having a big bodied extra flanker on the field, the way he would sweep back to support his back three and be the first forward to carry if either O’Connell or fullback Johnson were caught in possession on the counter attack.
He was top notch - and so was his big mate Levi Slater.
Tyler Maybery (BBC)
BBC skipper Tyler Maybery was his normal self with second effort performances sprinkled across another busy Saturday afternoon of First XV action.
It was not BBC’s day against a super slick Nudgee, but Maybery’s effort at flanker was evident.
Ky Morris (TSS)
A glue player in The Southport School’s big forward pack, open side flanker Ky Morris was someone his teammates could count on.
His defensive work and ferocity at the breakdowns was key in his team’s thwarting of the impressive Churchie forward pack.
Tom Siganto (BGS)
There are plenty of good signs emerging at Brisbane Grammar and the super consistent Siganto has been one of the brightest sparks.
He had another fine game at inside centre last weekend, for the entire 70 minutes.
Ezalle Matautia (IGS)
The powerful No. 8, originally from Woree in Cairns, worked himself to a standstill in what has been an outstanding season for the Far North Queensland product.
Matautia got Ipswich Grammar’s pack firing with his charges through centrefield and from there halfback Joseph Post had clean ball to dish out the back to Tyson Walker and Amaziah Murgha.
Dallas Ingram (TSS)
Dallas Ingram was the mastermind behind TSS’s six try barrage on Saturday as the Year 11 flyhalf continued to develop into a rugby No.10.
Ingram scored a stunning try himself and directed his troops very well around the park.
Adam Latham (Nudgee)
Nudgee has the tallest line out timber in the competition, but Latham adds to the set piece potency, particularly on attacking ball when his catch and release finds John Grenfell surging down the blindside.
Latham also chased Charlie O’Connell tactical kicking like his life depended upon it and carried the ball strongly in contact.
SPECIAL MENTIONS:
Carter Welfare (Nudgee)
Carter Welfare’s link play with the ball capitalised on Sam Watson’s outstanding service to his backs.
Welfare had a capacity to catch and pass, hold his delivery of the pass back a little or go himself.
He also offered a mid field defensive wall alongside outside centre Prestyn Laine-Sietu.
Cooper Eagle (BBC)
Hardworking Gold Coast boy Cooper Eagle soarred high in a losing effort on Saturday.
The second year lock who bites his teeth into defence scored two of the three tries scored by his team but his great performanc got lost in the wash of Nudgee’s startling 54 point scoring spree.
Ben Didonna (Nudgee)
Every champion team has an unsung hero and Didonna is that man, so frequently is he up the backside of tackled teammates.
There was one passage of play when he roared off to recycle the ball from the explosive Johnson, then rose to his feet to be the first on the scene seconds later after Grenfell had been tackled 20m down the field after bursting through the line.
Ed Kasprowicz and Bennett Armistead (Nudgee)
The tall towers just had to be given a mention, didn’t they?
After all, so much of Nudgee’s momentum comes off their outstanding delivery of Grenfell’s throws which leads to many and varied attacking options executed by the side.
H Hattingh (IGS)
The mobile prop has been the cornerstone of IGS’s tight five this season and again he scrummed strongly and was busy around the field.
His hard work flew under the radar but he played a big part in getting the backs front boot ball.
Saia Poese (Gregory Terrace)
Poese contributed to one of the highlight reel plays of the day with a withering step and acceleration to set up a try for Gregory Terrace.
The fleet footed outside back talent wouldn’t look out of place in any of the competition’s backline and last weekend he was dangerous again against unbeaten BSHS.
Finn Kendall (Ipswich Grammar)
The IGS outside centre continued to get better and better in a frantic win by Ipswich Grammar.
The Broncos Academy centre scored a try early, supported well and defended strongly as the game went on.
When Brisbane Grammar mounted a late comeback, Kendall jammed in off his edge to make a telling tackle – then jumped to his feet and won possession back to win a penalty and a get out of jail free card.
Callum Dalton (TSS)
The cousin of Cody Walker (NRL) has come on splendidly since his debut mid season, and last weekend he finished off two thrilling long distance tries that brought the house down on the Village Green.
He is rapid.
Bailen Noy (Churchie)
Despite being yellow carded late in the match, playmaker Bailen Noy showed great potential for a youngster.
Named in one of two Brisbane representative teams to contest the Emerging Reds Cup later this month, the fullback or flyhalf finished his debut First XV season in solid fashion at the Shark Tank.
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