TAS First XV’s all-time greatest side - along with six of the best in 2022
How would this side go again GPS or AIC’s all-star rugby teams? We name the greatest TAS First XV side - along with Six of the Best current talents in the schoolboy rugby union competition.
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The Associated Schools is one of the quiet achievers in producing elite Queensland rugby talent, but the strength of this all-time greatest side named by our reporters may surprise you.
We have chosen what we consider to be the best past players from incumbent AIC schools, plus those best from old treasures Rosalie Marist College and De La Salle (now Southern Cross Catholic College).
We have not included players from school like Marist College Ashgrove or St Laurence’s College, for example, who were previously TAS but whom are now in the AIC.
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Our TAS best ever team includes a Queensland Team of the Century player, Ben Tune, a 47 Test veteran who was a sensational winger and outside centre.
Tune was a special attacking talent, but also a wonderful defender.
Indeed when aged just 19, and in his first season wearing Wallaby colours, then Australian coach Greg Smith swapped Tune from his preferred left wing to right win to mark a juggernaut called Jonah Lomu (All Blacks). Tune hit Lomu’s ankles all game long, silencing for great Lomu for the match.
And how is this for a back forward five - Mark Nightingale, Jeff Miller, Troy Coker, Rod McCall, David Giffin?
Miller was a Wallaby, Queensland and University of Queensland open side flanker, an absolute champion of his era.
Coker was a tall, mobile No.8, blind flanker or lock who was enormous in the lineout and around the ground.
McCall was nicknamed the Postman because he always delivered the ball for his side jumping at No.2 or No.4 in the lineout, but mainly No.2. He also mentored a young John Eales at club level for Brothers and then at provincial level.
Giffin was a fabulous lock who had to look interstate (ACT) to get a starting position in Super Rugby due to the presence of McCall, Eales and Garrick Morgan.
The bruise brothers, Shane and Mark Nightingale, were among the top 18 picked, with Mark the starting No.8 and Shane, a 1982 Wallaby tourist, on the bench.
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Marist College Rosalie, which sadly is now closed, provides the bulk of the side, including any Queensland players of the 1960s and the legendary Stan Pilecki.
Pilecki was a prop forward warhorse who lapped up the social aspect of the code once the full-time whistle blew.
In addition to our Greatest Ever side, we also name Six of the Best modern stars who, in years to come, may be considered for future greatest ever teams.
TAS FIRST XV’S GREATEST SIDE
Fullback: Peter Dawson (Rosalie, Queensland representative)
Winger: Kent Warbrooke (Rosaalie Marist, Queensland representative)
Centre: Ben Tune (St Paul’s School, Wallaby great)
Centre: Poutasi Luafutu (Rosalie, Queensland representative)
Winger: Greg Galligan (Rosalie, Queensland representative
Fly half: Brett Walker (St Columban’s College, Qld under 21s, Brothers)
Halfback: Ian Prior (Ormiston College, Western Force captain and playing for the Wallabies U20’s
No.8: Mark Nightingale (St Columban’s College)
Flanker: Jeff Miller (De La Salle, 26 Test Wallaby)
Flanker: Troy Coker (St Paul’s School, 27 Tests)
Lock: David Giffin (Redeemer College, 50 Tests)
Lock: Rod McCall (St Columban’s College, 40 Tests)
Prop: Stan Pilecki (Rosalie Marist, 18 Tests)
Hooker: Alex Casey (Ormiston College)
Prop: Fletcher Dyson (John Paul College, 10 Tests)
Reserves
Shane Nightingale (St Columban’s College, Wallaby, Queensland Reds, Brothers)
Ed O’Donoghue (Rosalie Marist, Queensland representative)
Jake Schatz (John Paul College, 85 games Queensland Reds)
Barry Brown (Rosalie Marist, Queensland flanker)
Fred Schwenke (Frawley College, Queensland under 21s)
Tyrell Barker (Ormiston College, played NRC and Easts Tigers club captain)
Taine Roiri (John Paul College, current junior Wallaby squad, colts 1 player)
Pat Banks (Rosalie Marist, Queensland under 19s)
Tony Steel (Rosalie Marist, Queensland under 19s)
Rob McCartney (DLS, Queensland under 21s)
The coach would be Mark Nightingale, who after his long service at Brothers was the captain-coach of Redcliffe in the QRU first grade competition.
And his manager? It would be none other than Jason “Rupert’’ McCall, the renowned poet who was an outstanding halfback for the Brothers club after attending DLS at Scarborough.
SIX OF THE (CURRENT) BEST IN 2022
Laif Williams (Ormiston)
Is he the best back in the TAS? He has played First XV in Year 10, 11 and now 12. He has previously played fullback and fly half and inside centre, and has the distinction of being captain of the Firsts as a year 11 student.
Beni Allen (John Paul College)
A powerful No.8 or inside centre, Allen is rugby league bound after signing a three season deal with the Brisbane Broncos where he will play as a No.13 or edge/centre. Allen is a fabulous modern day forward who is mobile around the paddock.
Liam Theron (WestMAC)
The West Moreton Anglican College prop is one of the best in the business. Big, strong and mobile, he can get across the field in cover defence and carry strongly in possession.
Devlyn Nel (St Columban’s College)
Nel is one of Columban’s most valued players. He is always there on defence, shutting the opposition down. He is a rock of the lineout for Columban’s.
Ryan Fitzgerald (St Columban’s College)
Columban’s fly half Ryan Fitzgerald is a fine decision maker, always timing his passes to perfection, and drawing in defenders to create overlaps.
Prop: Oscar Neuendorf-King (CHAC)
He makes our top side because of his effort and huge heart, not because he is the most talented player. Regardless of the circumstances, he bravely trucks the ball forward. CHAC are lucky to have him in the engine room.
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