Queensland Reds report card as season 2023 draws to a close
Two Academy teams that boast a bright future for rugby in Queensland scored top marks in our Queensland Reds Academy report card following the climax of the Super Rugby U16 and U19 competitions. See which players caught the eye.
Local sport
Don't miss out on the headlines from Local sport. Followed categories will be added to My News.
We’d give the Queensland Reds under 16s team an A on its end of season report card as the Super Rugby U16 and U19 competition hits the finish line after another stellar year.
This was despite the New South Wales Waratahs surging to a convincing 22-8 victory in last Sunday’s grand final in Canberra.
The Reds Under 16s played five matches, losing two against the Waratahs, and winning three against the ACT Brumbies, Melbourne Rebels and Western Force.
Meanwhile, the Under 19s just missed out on a second successive grand finals berth after being pipped by the Brumbies in a must-win round five thriller.
Queensland Reds Under 16s
Report card A
It was a wild ride for the exciting U16s who had supporters cheering them on in wins over the ‘Tahs, Brumbies and Rebels - before losing by 14 in the grand final.
There were plenty of boys who put their hand up for selection at the Emerging Reds Cup and the Reds selectors trimmed the squad down to a formidable 23 which had size, pace, and class about them.
The Southport School prop Kingsley Uys led from the front with his carries, while lock Bennett Armistead stormed onto the scene with a rollicking campaign where he influenced lineouts.
Throwing the ball into those lineouts was Kiedo Goulding (King’s Christian College) who is a powerful hooker built low to the ground. Later in the tournament, Nudgee hooker Liam Robinson couldn’t be denied a starting position after his rolling maul brilliance and accurate throwing stood out when coming off the bench.
But everyone pulled their weight.
POWER PERSONIFIED
This title would go to Brisbane Boys’ College No.8 Kiama Jione who was excellent.
After a strong showing in the Queensland Country Under 16s at the ERC, Jione kept his assault on rival shoulders with a display of strength, speed and toughness in contact.
BEST TRY SCORING FORWARD
There was competition in Trent Picot and Liam Robinson, but BBC lock Gray O’Neill was a certainty from close range.
Bolstered by headgear, O’Neill popped up in the right places, was a terrific support player and was a lineout threat.
He had great hands for a tall forward and was a link between the forwards and backs.
SON OF A GUN
Oliver Nasser, son of Queensland and Wallaby flanker Brendan “Bobby” Nasser and the brother of Reds hooker Josh, came to the fore in the back-end of the tournament.
In the grand final Oliver, a versatile forward who can play anywhere in the pack, made a handful of pressure relieving runs out of the Reds danger zone which split the defence wide open.
UNSUNG HERO
Who knew of William Graham before the tournament? Well you have to know the St John’s College scrumhalf now.
He was a staple of consistency for the Queenslanders, and the fact he played every game but one solidified that he is the best No.9 in his age group.
While we are on the topic of unsung heroes, Toowoomba Grammar halfback Jack Brown also came into his own.
We did not know of Brown prior to the tournament but in a convincing win over the Rebels at Sunnybank he was the name on everyone’s lips - as was Treyvon Pritchard.
He is a natural, an off-the-whim player who will be so much better for the experience.
SPECIAL
St Laurence’s College flyhalf Finn Mackay announced himself in this tournament.
What he announced himself as is up to you to decide but in our view the 16-year-old is special.
He has time, he has control over every game and his kicking ability, both for goal and in general play, is of Super Rugby standard.
While he sets up others, he can also create a try of his own.
Another one we are high on is Treyvon Pritchard, an electric outside back who has a great vertical leap, superb footwork, speed and he does not shirk the physical contest.
He loves it.
DISCOVERY PLAYER
From the rugby league hotbed of Ignatius Park College, winger Myles Rosemond rose to thrive in this level of rugby.
A player who gathers speed as he goes, shaggy-haired Rosemond was a fun player to watch who, while unselfish, knew when to pin the ears back and go himself.
BLUE COLLAR WORKERS
As we mentioned earlier, everyone in this group pulled their weight, and played their role very well.
Ipswich State High School wrecking ball Berakah Tuifaasisina was one who played tighthead exceptionally well.
A beast in the weight room, Ipswich Jets talent Tuifaasisina was light on his feet, had deceptive pace and good change of direction. He also held down a scrum which was of the best in the competition.
Brisbane State High School’s Trent Picot, another who plays club rugby league, continued on his way after a strong year helping his school’s First XV upset eventual premiers Nudgee, with a campaign to be proud of.
The physical flanker knew how to score, how to attack the breakdown and how to impact a game.
The Queensland Reds Under 16s grand final team:
Kingsley Uys (c) | The Southport School
Liam Robinson | St Joseph’s Nudgee College
Berakah Tuifaasisina | Ipswich State High School
Bennett Armistead | St Joseph’s Nudgee College
William Ross | Padua College
Gray O’Neill | Brisbane Boys College
Oliver Nasser | St Joseph’s College Gregory Terrace
Jack Randall | Brisbane Boys College
William Graham | St John’s College Nambour
Finn Mackay | St Laurence’s College
Myles Rosemond | Ignatius Park College
Max Blanch (vc) | Anglican Church Grammar School
Connor Clifford | The Southport School
Kilarney Lavender | The Southport School
Treyvon Pritchard | Anglican Church Grammar School
Keido Goulding | King’s Christian College
Isaac Rauluni | St Joseph’s Nudgee College
Cyrus Suniula | Brisbane State High School
Ed Kasprowicz | St Joseph’s Nudgee College
Trent Picot | Brisbane State High School
Jack Brown | Toowoomba Grammar School
Fletcher Austin | Anglican Church Grammar
Kiama Jione | Brisbane Boys College
Queensland Reds Under 19s
Report card B+
Expectations were elevated around the Under 19s entering the season after making last year’s grand final and they held up well despite being marred by injuries.
They lost to both the Waratahs and the Brumbies but had they finished the job against the Brumbies then who knows, maybe the Reds would have won in this age group.
They were getting traction from their front rowers, Macarius Pereira, Lehopa Leota and Will Rogers, while fullback Will McCulloch was marvellous.
McCulloch was one of the best two or three back three players in the competition and the side also had a touch of class added to its back division, with hard working Frankie Goldsbrough challenging opponents with his carries and his exhaustive defence.
PLAYERS TO KEEP
Australian Schools and U18s prop Macarius Pereira is a player the Reds should keep but the premiership winning Nudgee skipper is a league boy at heart.
He will play Meninga Cup Under 19s for the Tigers in 2024, but he has played more rugby than rugby league this year after a wealth of representative experience capped off a year to remember.
He is mobile, built like an ox, a great leader and is very passionate.
We could go on for hours about him.
PRODIGY
Iona College Year 11 Lehopa Leota started the year as a “what if” playing AIC First XV rugby.
He was great, and the potential was clearly there.
Iona First XV head coach Paul Davey sung his praises, first about his work ethic and second about his talent.
Fast forward six months and Leota is twice as good.
He played Queensland Reds Under 18s, Under 19s, Australian Schoolboys, and even helped Brothers win the Colts 1 premiership.
All this from the Iona College 2024 school captain.
INJURY WARDEN
Who knows how the Queenslanders could have fared had Trevor King, Dominic Thygesen, Luke Aiken and Ben Daniels been healthy and played.
Don’t forget Harry McLaughlin-Phillips was also eligible for this age group.
Before the tournament started, Queensland Academy talents Finn Prass (Force) and Kadin Pritchard (Brumbies), both premiership winners with Brothers, were also given opportunities.
MOVES LIKE MCCULLOCH
While there is a logjam in the fly half position at the Reds, there is more opportunity at fullback where Norths Eagle and Padua old boy Will McCulloch excels.
At the moment there is Jock Campbell and coming through is Floyd Aubrey. There are others who can play there like Jordan Petaia, and Mac Grealy.
But after this tournament McCulloch made a statement.
We will see what 2024 holds for the Australian Schools and U18s selection (2022) who was the lone Queenslander who was back for a second year in the Reds Under 19s.
CAPTAIN COURAGEOUS
How good was it to see Joe Liddy back in action?
The Reds captain led from the front after he had missed club footy with a back injury.
Queensland flyhalf Will Nason said this about Joe after their first game of the tournament and it describes Liddy to a tee.
“He (captain Joe Liddy) was great,” Nason said after he snatched a 35-27 win over the Force.
“He was amazing, he always is.
“In training he was our loudest voice, he leads from the front so it was well deserved.”
This was a side full of workhorses, from No.8 Patrick Sowerby to defensive ace Frankie Goldsbrough, the Reds were a team full of heart.
The Queensland Reds Under 19s round five team list was:
Macarius Pereira | St Joseph’s Nudgee College
Will Rogers | Norths
Lehopo Leota | Iona College | Brothers
Charlie Brosnan | Brothers
Pat Gavin | GPS
Cooper Cameron | Brothers
Joe Liddy (c) | Easts
Pat Sowerby | UQ
Callum Reidy | Norths
Will Nason | Souths
Joe Doljanin | GPS
Denzil Perkins | Souths
Frankie Goldsbrough | Anglican Church Grammar School
Ryley Bierton | Souths
Will Mcculloch | Norths
Aidan Taylor | Brothers
Rory Beech | Brothers
Nick Harper | GPS
Alex Kerr | Easts
Cadell Rees | Souths
Luke Aiken | Sunshine Coast Grammar School | Brothers
Dre Pakeho | Brothers
Ellis Davies | Brothers
Club cricket: Ton of fun by first and second grade bats; third grade Team of the Week
Club cricket: The latest 3-2-1 votes from first and second grade men and women, plus the Norm McMahon third grade Team of the Week revealed.
Taverners 3-2-1 top guns highlighted as Valley open their account
Taverners Queensland Under-17s: Who were the 3-2-1 best performers from round 5? The best of the best are revealed here after a drought-breaking win.