The best since 2000: Former international star Josh Afu names QLD Premier Rugby dream team
A former Tongan international union star who played for Australia has revealed his all-time dream team from Queensland’s Premier Rugby series. See who he named
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Josh Afu knows talent when it steps on the field.
The Tongan-born union star has coached alongside the likes of current Queensland Reds assistant coach, Sione Fukofuka.
Afu himself represented Australia through the junior ranks and turned down a position with the Broncos to pursue professional union.
Despite being a promising prodigy in the Queensland Reds Academy, ankle and shoulder injuries forced Afu down a different path.
He instead played national level rugby in Japan, Hong Kong and France before jetting back to Australia to begin the next stage: coaching.
Now, Afu reveals his ultimate Queensland Premier Rugby ‘dream team’ since 2000.
1 (LOOSE-HEAD PROP)
Dan McConaughy
Club: Sunnybank Rugby
McConaughy is known in club rugby circles as one of the greatest Sunnybank captains of all time.
He is a selfless leader who goes about his job on and off the field to ensure his team reaches its potential.
2 (HOOKER)
Ole Avei
Club: Sunnybank Rugby
A fellow Sunnybank player, Avei played hooker and was notorious for having the skills of a backrower.
If that doesn’t impress you, teammates say he could stun opponents with the footwork of a back.
3 (TIGHT-HEAD PROP)
Ernest Skelton
Club: Wests Bulldogs
Throughout his Queensland Premier Rugby career with the Bulldogs, Ernest Skelton played multiple positions in the front row and was an opponent you knew not to mess with.
Josh Afu described all too well what if felt like to be up against Skelton.
“Running into his shoulders was like running into a car accident,” he said.
4 (SECOND ROWER)
James Kruikelis
Club: Sunnybank Rugby
Without a doubt, Kruikelis was a natural mentor both on and off the field for Sunnybank.
During his years with the Dragons, Kruikelis was a consistent leader in the lineout to help his side stay in control of the speed of the game.
5 (SECOND ROWER)
Daniel Linde
Club: University of Queensland
Without a single complaint, Linde would get to work the second he stepped on the field for UQ.
“He was a toiler that just got stuck into his work,” Afu said.
Linde is undoubtably a name many recall watching in awe.
6 (BLIND-SIDE FLANKER)
Josh Fuimaono
Club: Gold Coast Breakers
Switching it up to include the Gold Coast, Afu remembers Josh Fuimaono as a true enforcer of the Breakers side.
He ran hard and fast at every tackle and was pivotal in clearing the ruck, as any great No. 6 does.
7 (OPEN-SIDE FLANKER)
Cassidy Holland
Club: Wests Bulldogs
There’s only one way Afu could describe his encounters with Bulldogs No. 7 Holland, and it goes like this:
“He was a great bloke off the field, but an absolute pest on it.”
The classic mark of a brilliant open-side Flanker, no doubt.
8 (NUMBER 8)
James Su’a
Club: Wests Bulldogs
In Afu’s books, Su’a is both a rival and idol.
“One of the most skilled athletes I’ve had the chance to play with,” he said.
Su’a holds the record for the most tries in QPR history, which is even more impressive considering he’s a forward.
9 (SCRUM-HALF)
Ben Lucas
Club: Sunnybank Rugby
An Australian representative during his schoolboy years, Lucas continued running the field for Sunnybank as a QPR legend.
Afu may have named him in No. 9 jersey, but Lucas could no doubt be star as No. 10.
In fact, he played that very position for the French Montpellier Hérault Rugby side in 2014-16.
10 (FLY-HALF)
Matt Brandon
Club: Easts Rugby
Brandon was a silky and skilful player on the field and would punish any team through his goal kicking.
Once on his game, there would be no coming off.
11 (LEFT WING)
Kuresa Lee
Club: Sunnybank Rugby
Lee could leave his opponents in fear when he wanted.
He was a big player on the wing, and it gave Sunnybank a point of difference.
Once on the charge, Lee could leave a trail of bodies behind him.
12 (INSIDE CENTRE)
Tim Sampson
Club: Sunnybank Rugby
The ultimate leader for any teammate, Sampson is still widely respected in the QPR books.
He was the kind of player you wanted to play with and for, but dreaded having to verse.
13 (OUTSIDE CENTRE)
Brett Gillespie
Club: University of Queensland
You could bet your mortgage on this bloke being in the top 3 players on field every game. According to Afu, Gillespie went about his work as an ultimate professional during every game.
14 (RIGHT WING)
Caleb Brown
Club: Gold Coast Breakers
If it wasn’t for the hampering of hamstring injuries, this man could have gone on for years.
He was an absolute freak of an athlete, and could do some serious damage to the defensive line-up of even the strongest opposition.
There’s a reason you put your fastest in No. 14, and Brown new exactly what his job was.
15 (FULL BACK)
Marshall Milroy
Club: Gold Coast Breakers
Another former Breakers star, Milroy would notoriously slice open the defence with his silky counter-attacking skills.
It doesn’t more than a google search to realise what a beast this man was during his prime.
With big-game experience in Australia, France and New-Zealand, there’s no doubt he deserves the spot in Afu’s all-star line-up.
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