Our GPS First XV rugby Team of the season revealed here
GPS First XV rugby Team of the season revealed here, along with Special Mention players, Hard Yakka award winners and Players we Can’t Wait to see again in 2024.
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To celebrate the closest GPS First XV premiership in many years, we name our annual Team of the Season.
Selections reflect just how close the competition was, with premiers Nudgee College having three players named in the top XV and another two on the bench.
But our top XV and extended reserves bench feature players from eight of the nine schools, including five in total from Toowoomba Grammar School and three from an unheralded TSS who almost pulled off Mission Impossible by sharing the premiership.
NUDGEE V TSS ROUND 9 PICTURE GALLERY
We also acknowledge those who went within a whisker of selection in our Special Mentions listings, and pat on the back some of the hard workers and quiet achievers who, while not in our Team of the Season squad, deserved recognition.
TEAM OF THE SEASON
Fullback. Jacob Johnson (Nudgee College)
Johnson was a point of difference with his pace which was dangerous in counter attack, difficult to contain from set plays and which he used to mop up kicks or defend.
Johnson also had an ability to find touch from acute angles and was special for Nudgee.
Wing: Amaziah Murgha (Ipswich Grammar School)
Murgha was outstanding with his speed, agility and mobility. He used his pace in attack, but also to save tries in cover defence. He was a blink or you’ll miss him type of player who iced a terrific season with a thrilling 95m intercept try last Saturday.
Centre: Richard Dean (TGS)
Dean was Toowoomba Grammar School’s most potent back. Playing fullback, his incursions caused alarm bells in the opposition teams, as did his passing game to outside backs.
We named Dean, also a talented cricketer, at centre to fit him into our top First XV.
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Centre: Prestyn Laine-Sietu (Nudgee College)
Laine-Sietu was a thorough professional for Nudgee, safer than the Bank of England.
Playing outside centre, he was a robust ball carrier who also had enough pace to challenge opponents on the outside.
He was also like an extra flanker at the breakdowns in support of a tackled teammate and was impregnable in defence.
Wing: Samson Tuqiri (BBC)
The athletic Tuqiri makes his second successive Team of the Season.
Even more dynamic with his running game than in 2022, it was Tuiqiri’s work off the ball as much as with it which again earned him pundits.
Flyhalf: Charlie Johnstone (Churchie)
Even on an off day - such as when he played against TGS - Johnstone still would have polled a vote in the 3-2-1 best player award.
He was the complete package with a fabulous passing game, strong running game and a deft kick in attack and defence.
He was one of the first players chosen in our team.
Halfback: James Martens (BBC)
Like a meteorite blazing across the night sky, Martens produced two sensational back to back performances in rounds 7 and 8 to whiz past his teammate Jamie Alexander, also his First XI cricket captain, and into our top First XV.
No. 8: Jimmy White (TGS)
White was a revelation with his driving runs, inspiring defence and support of fallen teammates around the breakdown. His effort plays would surely have inspired teammates around him and he was a leading factor in TGS pushing so hard for the premiership.
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Flanker: Joe Gray (TGS)
Unheralded at the start of the season, Gray would have been a coaches’ dream. Reputations meant nothing to him as he got stuck in from start to finish on and off the ball. He could also offer teammates a nice pass to clear the ball away from the traffic.
Flanker: Mattias Agent (BSHS)
Agent entered the season a relative unknown but finished as an automatic selection. Week to week he was a top three performer in many matches, a tireless worker in a very good BSHS pack. It is a shame a jaw injury did not allow him to finish what he started, but he can reflect on a magnificent season.
Lock: Tom Robinson (Terrace)
There was no second season syndrome for the athletic Robinson who continued to enhance his reputation across the season. After a booming debut season in 2022, Robinson went on with the job and his inclusion in our team was one of the easier decisions we made.
Lock: Fergus Gillan (TSS)
We doff our hats to Gillan. Few, if any, gave TSS a chance at the start of the season of challenging for the premiership and the foundation of their success was built around their inspiring forward leader. He was arguably the most consistent, aggressive back five forward in the competition.
Prop: Marcius Pereira (Nudgee)
Is there a better skipper in the competition? He led from the front with his carries, his sweeping collections of possession from lineouts, but also his intensity gave Nudgee an edge. He was one of two returning players and he made such a difference with his leadership.
Hooker: Moses Manu (BSHS)
Of course he is an elite prop but to get the very best First XV named, we are comfortable selecting him as hooker. He is a mobile unit with all the skills who would walk into any rival First XV set up.
Prop: Kingsley Uys (TSS)
He is a man mountain, a big, strong powerful front rower who was overwhelming on both sides of the ball. Uys will only get better with more experience playing the hardest position on the field.
RESERVES
Billy Wellard (TSS)
Loose forward Wellard was simply magnificent. Along with Gillan, see above, Wellard’s experience came to the fore with inspiring loose forward play. TSS were lucky to have him.
PJ Su’a (Terrace)
Su’a thumping runs from No. 8 shook the competition. A big, mobile unit, he was at the forefront of Terrace’s recovery this season with his compelling ball carrying into the teeth of the rivals.
Cooper Hoare (BBC)
The stoic hooker had a highlight game against Terrace in round 8, but across the season he was strong and a consistent campaigner who had great balance and even a fend.
Frankie Goldsbrough (Churchie)
Goldsbrough was an outside back trump card whose crashing runs were difficult to contain, and whose bruising defence would have intimidated some opponents.
He was the full package.
Harry Newnham (TGS)
Along with his forward teammates White and Gray, see above, Newnham was another unsung hero, this time as an outside centre. He was no trailblazer, but he kept all opponents in check, was reliable and added balance to the high achieving TGS squad.
Emil Willie Jawai (Churchie)
Gosh he was good. Each week he’d make our team of the week and there was not a more powerful scrummager in the competition. He was also a good ball carrier and pick and drive exponent.
George Griffiths (TGS)
Another quiet achiever from the Darling Downs, Griffiths was a pillar at lock. He had the work ethic of a back rower and could run in long distance tries as he did against Terrace - all the while being a colossus in the set pieces.
Hugo Hart (Nudgee)
He had a consistent season, was aggressive and linked well with the backs. Hart left nothing in the dressing room and it was a shame he was injured in the last game. We look forward to seeing him in club land.
Noal Rauluni (Nudgee)
He was steady in the first couple of games but hit his straps the deeper the season progressed. Rauluni was dynamic, had a great step, pace and power through the legs and could off load and keep the ball alive.
Nudgee had a good one in him and may not have done as well without him.
Oscar Affleck (Ipswich Grammar School)
He was Mr Consistency, and although IGS did not always turn promise into wins, it was through no fault of Affleck. Every week he was the name on the lips of IGS director of sport Nigel Greive and that was because of his effort play. He was not a superstar player, but he gave IGS 70 strong minutes.
Jamie Alexander (BBC)
We initially wanted to have him as the No. 1 halfback but James Martens late season form was a marvel. Alexander won the game against TGS, and across the season he was quick between the ears and a great leader who has a knack for making big plays.
THE PLAYERS WE’D LOVE TO HAVE FOUND ROOM FOR ON THE BENCH
Will Pascoe (BGS)
Was Pascoe BGS best player this year? From what we saw the answer was yes. The big boy was powerful, a strong runner who never stopped toiling. He really stepped up in his second season of First XV.
Jakeb Horne (BSHS)
After making the Australian schools team last year as a hooker, he influenced this year’s competition with his hard edge and leadership. We had not seen a BSHS forward pack this good for some years and he, along with Agent and Moses mentioned already, and fellow forwards Siale Mahina, Eli Langi, Jack Gordon, Joel Broderick and Dirhys Sefo were outstanding.
Xavier Ruebens (BBC)
He missed game one because he is a rowing superstar but quickly made up for lost time. Although he had internal competition for his position, he was a must for selection each week and always a try scoring threat.
His performance against TSS was outstanding.
Angus Kelly (Terrace)
Kelly was as good as any centre in the competition, a big body who could run crash ball or challenge on the outside. He was at the forefront of Terrace’s improved season this year.
Special mentions
Chace Oates (TGS)
Amare Milford (TSS)
Nathan Fraser (IGS)
Will Pamenter (IGS)
Dirhys Sefo (BSHS)
Jean-Paul Sia (IGS)
Siale Mahina (BSHS)
Eli Langi (BSHS)
Ed Kasprowicz (Nudgee)
Sebastian Smith-Power (TSS)
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GPS FIRST XV RUGBY ROUND 7 REPORT
Hard Yakka award winners
Jack Gordon (BSHS)
Jovid Aveau (Terrace)
Tom Bailey (TGS)
Diamond Fifita (Churchie)
Alex Roe (BGS)
Lyncoln Cliffe (IGS)
Joseph Stoddart (Churchie)
Charlie Coffey (TSS winger)
Sam Hyne (Nudgee)
Ewald Kruger (TGS)
Tyler Mayberry (BBC)
Players we can’t wait to see in 2024
Blaze Moana (TSS)
Sam and Joe McGahan (Terrace)
Tom Goldie (TSS)
Jacob Johnson (Nudgee)
Hugo Hart (Nudgee)
Ed Kasprowicz (Nudgee)
Samuel Watson (Nudgee)
Frank Howarth (BBC)
Delacruz Ripley (BBC)
Tyson Walker (IGS)
Joe Gray (TGS)
Finn Kendall (IGS)
Brock Coombes (IGS)
Quiet achievers
Ollie Spence (BGS)
Jermiah Sialau (TGS)
Maddox Maclean (Nudgee)
Oscar Shaw (BBC)
Spencer Alcock (TSS)
Oliver Barrett (Nudgee)
Jean-Paul Sia (IGS)
Samuel Watson (Nudgee)
Cruz Lemming (Nudgee)
Joel Broderick (BSHS)
Noah Clifford (Terrace)
Ryan Heaton (Nudgee)
Hugh Rylance (Churchie)
James Duggan (Nudgee)
Nick Dunstan (Terrace)
Max Blanch (Churchie)
Hamish Ward (Churchie)
Stanley Keats (BBC)
Jye Crothers (Churchie)
Mason King (TSS)
Henry Hill (Terrace)
Jack Brown (TGS)
Charlie Bird (BBC)
Exciting raw talent award
Tauave Leofa (BSHS)
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