Toowoomba Grammar School emerge; the green shoots of Tce

GPS First XV rugby today: Here’s the round one teams, plus our fearless premiership predications and how the competition is shaping up.

Action from the GPS first XV rugby match between Nudgee College and Toowoomba Grammar School. It will be a 2023 blockbuster as well. Photo: Tertius Pickard

Toowoomba Grammar School were our tip to challenge St Joseph’s Nudgee College for the GPS First XV premiership, but the competition will not be a race in two.

A bumper season looms, starting Saturday, and the www.couriermail.com.au will be there covering the action, publishing our story each Saturday afternoon.

GPS FIRST XV PLAYERS TO WATCH

GPS RUGBY TEAM OF THE DECADE SO FAR

Can TGS turn an exciting and much improved 2022 season into its first premiership since 1956?

The answer – yes they can.

Under the coaching of Scott Gale with Cameron Lillycrap his assistance, TGS have arguably the best back in the competition – Chace Oates.

But TGS also have very good key position players, led by stoic lock George Griffiths.

Ironically Oates may miss round 1. He has not been named but a decision will be made late on his fitness.

We won’t see Nudgee until round 2 after a first round bye, but they are our tip for the premiership.

Nudgee College players celebrate a try last season. Picture, John Gass

They will have to shut the gates to the college, so many people will be wanting to get in to view the TGS v Nudgee match-up that weekend

For Nudgee, old hand Macarius Pereira, a third season prop, athletic back rower Hugo Hart and explosive tighthead prop Oliver Barrett who is so skilled, he can throw into the lineout.

Outside Prestyn Laine-Sietu will be winger Emmanuel Taviri. Nudgee never fail to have a quicksilver winger.

Our top tips

1. Nudgee

2 TGS

3. BBC

4. Churchie

5. Terrace

But we stress, any side is capable of beating anyone on the day – including in round 1 at Terrace when St Joseph’s Gregory Terrace host TGS.

Terrace celebrate try last season. – Picture: Richard Walker

Terrace coach Adrian Thompson has at his disposal a young gun pack headed by skipper Tom Robinson, vice-captain Noah Clifford, PJ Su’a who first played in the top side as a Year 10 student, and Jovid Aveau.

Terrace’s Jovid Aveau has come a long way from Little A and the North Lakes Leopards juniors.

We really like this pack, and also fullback Nick Dunstan.

Another forward pack not to take lightly is Churchie where mobile premiership winning props Diamond Fifita and Emil Willie-Jawai will lead the way, along with yet another Stoddart – skipper Joe.

There is a winning culture under head coach Ryan Schultz and Churchie have a big tick from us before a ball is kicked in anger.

We didn’t put TSS in our top contenders, but how can a side with Spencer Alcock at the steering wheel, and featuring forwards Blaze Moana, Fergus Gillan, Billy Wellard and Amare Milford be discounted? They are serious players.

The Southport School supporters will be in full voice on Saturday at home. Picture, John Gass

The Brisbane Boys College community should be excited about their BBC Babes. BBC has a thrilling array of talent, many of whom learned the hard way last season and who will be older and wiser. BBC are premiership contenders, don’t worry.

BBC fans will have plenty to cheer about this season Picture, John Gass

Brisbane State High School always has more talent than you can poke a stick and under coach Haydn Hirsimake, watch for fly half Leota to ignite things behind a pack featuring one of the most promising in the competition – Moses Manu.

But they also have hooker Jakeb Horne, locks Eli Langi, Jack Gordon, impressive No. 8 Dirhys Sefo and toiling flanker Joel Broderick who is a second season First XV veteran.

This is a very good BSHS pack to provide a platform for a back division featuring Tauave Leofa and Netani Lesimaikimatuku.

Take Ipswich Grammar School lightly at your peril. Raife McKenzie will be first onto the pitch and he will be a well drilled and skilled outfit featuring the likes of Nathan Fraser and Tyson Walker.

Brisbane Tigers Elijah BREEN. Picture: Liam Kidston.

And Brisbane Grammar School, under decorated old boy Phil Mooney, will be looking to build on a terrific 2022 when the side gained traction in a vastly improved season.

We think they can do it all over again this season.

They have some strike in Shannon Simpson, skill and toughness in the midfield with Elijah Breen and willing forwards. And their First XI star Oliver Spencer will play fullback.

Tom Robinson tackles Will Sheedy last season – Picture: Richard Walker

FIRST ROUND TEAMS

St Joseph’s College, Gregory Terrace v Toowoomba Grammar School
Internationals Oval, Tennyson, 2.20pm

Terrace: 1. Jack Butterfield, 2. Cody Harkins, 3. Jovid Aveau, 4. Noah Clifford (VC), 5.

Tom Robinson (capt), 6. Charlie Cooke, 7. Tim Bliss, 8. PJ Su’a, 9. Zac Taylor, 10. Sam McGahan, 11. Sam Russell, 12. Angus Kelly, 13. Henry Hill, 14. Tate Connors, 15.

Nick Dunstan (VC).

TGS: 1. Jeremiah Sialau, 2. Ewald Kruger, 3. Angus Buckley, 4. George Griffiths, 5. Jonah Allen, 6. Tom Bailey, 7. Joe Gray, 8. Jimmy White, 9. Matt Moore, 10. Iliasa Baravilala, 11. Clancy McCosker, 12. Harry Newnham, 13. Trace Beattie, 14. Will Holley, 15. Richard Dean

Nudgee will be a big threat again with Diamond Fifita and Emil Willie-Jawai as props, and Frankie Goldsbrough at centre. Picture, John Gass

Churchie v Brisbane State High School

Churchie Main Oval, East Brisbane, 2.20pm

Churchie: 1. Diamond Fifita, 2 Hamish Ward, 3 Emil Willie-Jawai, 4 Rory Bliss, 5 Thomas Pappas, 6 Jye Crothers, 7 Joseph Stoddart (c), 8 Max Campbell, 9 Hugh Rylance, 10 Charlie Johnstone (vc), 11 Sam Nott, 12 Max Blanch, 13 Frankie Goldsbrough (vc), 14 Charlie O’Connell, 15 Fletcher Austin.

BSHS: 1 Siale Mahina, 2 Jakeb Horne, 3 Moses Manu, 4 Eli Langi, 5 Jack Gordon, 6 Joel Broderick, 7 Mattias Agent, 8 Dirhys Sefo, 9 Bailey Pell, 10 Tauave Leofa, 11 Laquan Afamiliona, 12 Netani Lesimaikimatuku, 13 Joshua Takai, 14 Nick Pareti, 15 Paddy Mcinally

The Southport School v Ipswich Grammar School

The Village Green, Southport, 2.20pm

TSS: 1. Kingsley Uys, 2. Blaze Moana, 3. Dylan Lachlan-Harden, 4. Fergus Gillan, 5. Sebastian Smith-Power, 6. Will Carter, 7. Billy Wellard, 8. Amare Milford, 9. Tom Goldie 10. Spencer Alcock, 11. Charlie Coffey, 12. Billy Tonkin, 13. Mason King, 14. Max Durrington, 15. Charlie Dwyer.

IGS: 1. Alex Schumacher, 2. Jean-Paul Sia, 3. William Pamenter, 4. Raife MacKenzie, 5. Oscar Afflick, 6. Tane Gregory, 7. Domanic Mason, 8. Lyncoln Cliffe, 9. Patrick Emmant, 10. Nathan Fraser, 11. Amaziah Murgha, 12. Dajuan Manase, 13. Malachi Vaigalu, 14. Brock Cooombes, 15. Tyson Walker.

Nudgee fans GPS first XV rugby between Nudgee and BBC Saturday August 6, 2022. Picture, John Gass

Brisbane Grammar School v Brisbane Boys College

Brisbane Grammar Playing Fields, Northgate, 2.20pm
BGS: 1. Tristan Knudsen 2 Kody Perry 3 Rowan Tong-Law 4 Oliver Akhavan 5 Will Pascoe 6 Mika Crichton 7 Ronan Mellick 8 Alex Roe © 9 Flynn Horton 10 Elijah Breen 11 Doug Chapman 12 Jonty Davis 13 Shannon Simpson 14 Duncan Feltham 15 Oliver Spence

BBC: 1. Jacob Job, 2. Cooper Hoare, 3. Slater Galloway, 4. Avery Thomson, 5. Harrison Angel, 6. Gray O’Neil, 7. Tyler Mayberry., 8. Nathan O’Neil. 9. James Alexander, 10. Oscar Shaw (c), 11. Samson Tuqiri, 12. Frank Howarth, 13. DC Ripley, 14. Stan Keats, 15. Charlie Bird

BYE: St Joseph’s Nudgee College

Noah Clifford – Picture: Richard Walker