Rugby League Gold Coast: We reveal the smartest players, best finishers, biggest hitters and more
We run the rule of Rugby League Gold Coast’s top players in a number of different categories, from the biggest hitters to the smartest players and best finishers. FULL LIST.
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Just two games remain in what has been a superb season of A-Grade footy in Rugby League Gold Coast.
For the first time in two seasons, a new premier is set to crowned with Southport’s three-peat hopes quashed by Currumbin last week in a tense and low-scoring affair.
In this column, we run the rule over the league’s top talents across an array of different categories.
Discover the league’s x-factor players, biggest hitters, hardest workers, smartest players and best finishers below.
X-Factor players
Kane Elgey
Club: Tugun Seahawks
Elgey played at such a high level, and his pass selection and ability to make the right decisions sets his apart. He’s very elusive and a good runner of the ball whose leadership shines through. Creates plenty of tries.
Kyle Williams
Club: Tugun Seahawks
The fullback is really quick and elusive, he’s a great support player and he can score a try from anywhere on the field.
Lloyd Perrett
Club: Helensvale Hornets
An experienced big bopper with plenty of NRL footy under his belt, Perrett has a big presence on the field and he can pass and offload which makes him skilful. Can pull in three or four defenders when he’s running the ball which creates space for others.
Isaiah Perrett
Club: Helensvale Hornets
One of the many talented Perrett’s running around for Helensvale this season, he’s a no. 6 with a good kicking game who’s tough defensively. He plays eyes up footy and his attack is developing nicely.
Elliott Speed
Club: Currumbin Eagles
Speed is in the Tweed program and came into Currumbin as a half. He can run the Eagles team, looks at his opportunities and reads the game well.
Kurtis Rowe
Club: Runaway Bay Seagulls
The Seagulls five-eighth has Cup experience. He makes big tackles and is an experienced player who knows when to lift the team.
Doryaan Hape Apiata
Club: Runaway Bay Seagulls
The front-rower has good experience and can lift the team when it needs it.
Dredin Goldsmith
Club: Runaway Bay Seagulls
Goldsmith oozes x-factor and his speed is blistering and definitely sets him apart. He has a good step and scores plenty of tries.
Shannon Gardiner
Club: Burleigh Bears
When he’s not playing Cup football and with Burleigh’s RLGC side he seems to take the right options, is a very smart player and knows when to run and pass.
Jaman Rio
Club: Southport Tigers
The scintillating fullback is one of the top players to done the no. 1 jersey in the competition, he has both pace and unassuming leg drive that allows him to break tackles.
Jalin Graham
Club: Southport Tigers
Graham’s footwork is amazing and he has impressive speed to match.
Biggest hitters
Kody Parsons
Club: Tugun Seahawks
Parsons has one of the best tackle techniques, is a beautiful timer and can really hurt blokes. Most opposition players don’t like running at him.
Tim Wolens
Club: Tugun Seahawks
Wolens is a local Tugun product and coach Will Johnstone described him as a “big lump of a man” who works hard, is fit and an intimidating figure. He loves a big shot, often come out of the line hard.
Jesse Malcolm
Club: Helensvale Hornets
Malcolm is an experienced lock who competes hard and will lead the pack and give them the experience needed to step up and have a crack.
Jack Murphy
Club: Helensvale Hornets
Murphy may be a winger but he can pull off some serious shots when required. Has some attitude despite his youth.
Gabriel Gul
Club: Helensvale Hornets
Hailing from Papua New Guinea, Gould plays in the middle and simply smashes his opponents. He runs flat out and doesn’t hold back when contact beckons.
Ken Allison
Club: Currumbin Eagles
The veteran centre is a workhorse who loves hitting. He sets the standard at Currumbin and is good for one or two tries a game more often than not, he’s ageless and can read the opposition’s defence well.
Joel Thompson
Club: Currumbin Eagles
Despite his limited involvement in the home and away season, former NRL man Thompson remains a fierce competitor and not too many people run down his lane. Still has the fire in the belly.
Doryaan Hape Apiata
Club: Runaway Bay Seagulls
Hape Apiata is a tough prospect for opposition and hits with force for the Seagulls.
Blake Campbell
Club: Runaway Bay Seagulls
The Seagulls junior has been through the Titans system and is a fine talent. Lined up at lock and delivered some solid hits throughout the season.
Joey Duffy
Club: Burleigh Bears
Duffey is a big unit who comes up with some decent shots, so much so you can often hear the contact from the crowd.
Carn Doyle-Manga
Club: Southport Tigers
You know you’ve played rugby league after facing Doyle-Manga, who leave opponents bruised and worse for wear with his hard hits.
Piki Te Ora Rogers
Club: Southport Tigers
One of the Tigers top talents and has an unbelievable tackle technique which sets him apart.
Smartest players
Sam Meskell
Club: Tugun Seahawks
Despite all the ex-NRL talent floating around on the Gold Coast Meskell has been to RLGC Player of the Year for the past two years running, and it should come as no surprise. The versatile Meskell can play hooker, lock or in the middle and has been coaching Tweed’s Mal Meninga Cup side. Lays a heap of tackles and has an exceptional work rate also.
Lachlan Evans
Club: Helensvale Hornets
Despite his youth the Helensvale playmaker is switched on and has a sold IQ.
Michael Burgess
Club: Currumbin Eagles
The Eagles halfback has simply got unique talent, he can commentate the game for team in both attack and defence. Coach Matt Geyer described it as feeding information into a robot. He has a thirst for the game and an appetite to learn.
Jarrod Gill
Club: Currumbin Eagles
The Currumbin captain is always involved when his side does something right, and often grinds out 80 minutes delivering what the team needs.
Kurtis Rowe
Club: Runaway Bay Seagulls
The five-eighth has Queensland Cup experience and puts it to good use, he knows when to lift the team and makes big tackles that can force dropped balls. He also guides Runaway Bay around the park with his playmaking and knows when to pass and when to kick.
Codey McLaughlin
Club: Runaway Bay Seagulls
The Seagulls captain has been playing senior footy since he was 18. He puts his heart on his sleeve and leads from the front, has a strong body and gives everything.
Erris Kane
Club: Runaway Bay Seagulls
The second rower used to play in the halves and has transformed into an edge back rower. He has skill and knows when to pass.
Michael Walit
Club: Burleigh Bears
Walit’s a very smart and he just knows his footy and where to put people, as well as where to be himself.
Blake Scott
Club: Southport Tigers
Scott puts his footy brain to good use in the halves and often makes the right playmaking choice.
Jordan Scott
Club: Southport Tigers
The hooker and Tigers captain leads from the front and plays eyes up football, is a very smart player.
Best finishers
Tim Cassidy
Club: Tugun Seahawks
Cassidy had been playing at Tugun for sometime and returned this season after a year away. He can score in plenty of different ways from centre, whether its in the air or beating his opponent one-on-one, simply a great finisher.
Troy Canning
Club: Tugun Seahawks
Tugun’s left wing has continued his stellar try-scoring form into 2024. He’s a good finisher, gets into the right position on the edge. Can be the beneficiary of smart players inside him, but rarely makes mistakes.
Caleb Isaia
Club: Helensvale Hornets
In his debut A-Grade season with the Hornets Isaia proved himself to be more than capable of crossing the stripe.
Lance Belford-Laulu
Club: Helensvale Hornets
Belford-Laulu is an experienced operator on the edge who’s more than capable of finishing impressively.
Liam Foster
Club: Currumbin Eagles
The Currumbin fullback has enjoyed a strong first season with the club, he’s really hard to stop and thrives for the collision. He’s not a huge man but still very hard to stop
Kalin Ropata
Club: Currumbin Eagles
Ropata scores plenty of tries from the back row as he runs a really tight line. When he’s not finishing he’s providing a really good option as a decoy.
Dredin Goldsmith
Club: Runaway Bay Seagulls
Goldsmith’s speed on the wing is simply blistering which gives him plenty of x-factor. He has a good step and can score tries.
Tuvalli Khan-Pereira
Club: Runaway Bay Seagulls
The younger brother of Titans star Alofiana, Tuvalli is a smaller player from the Burleigh system and has lots of speed and strength. Carries the ball strongly.
Zac Munn
Club: Burleigh Bears
Munn is a young player who stepped up well on the wing and often crosses the stripe for Burleigh. Does his job when the ball comes his way.
Jaman Rio
Club: Southport Tigers
Uses his deceptive pace and strength well to create try-scoring chances or finish them off.
Hardest workers
Tim Wolens
Club: Tugun Seahawks
You’ll always catch Wolens doing extras in the gym or running by himself. He works really hard on his engine, is a hard worker in game and provides a lot both offensively and defensively.
Reico Ratana
Club: Tugun Seahawks
Ratana is a right back row who is super fit and some his teammates love to play with. He’s no nonsense, always training, and has an old head on his young shoulders. Unfortunately picked up an injury in the last round of the year that meant he missed Tugun’s finals campaign.
Bailey Court
Club: Helensvale Hornets
The Hornets’ hooker can also play half or lock. He always competes, defends well in the middle and is near the top of the tackle count. Works his heart out.
Cameron Newell
Club: Helensvale Hornets
Newell works hard in the front row and is constantly taking hit ups. Also consistently finds himself at the pointy end of the tackle count.
Arron Shelford
Club: Helensvale Hornets
Shelford works hard every week and the back-rower rarely misses a training session or game.
Jarrod Gill
Club: Currumbin Eagles
For Currumbin, nothing compares to having Gil in the middle for long periods of time, and he always seems to be at the fore when things go right.
Blake Campbell
Club: Runaway Bay Seagulls
The lock has lots of experience and a really strong fend which makes him hard to stop. Also has good speed and is a strong all-round footballer.
Doryaan Hape Apiata
Club: Runaway Bay Seagulls
Hape Apiata brings size and presence and is always good for a hell of a lot of carries.
Noah Nikotemo
Club: Runaway Bay Seagulls
Proved to be a great senior find for Runaway Bay after he stepped up from the reserves and has impressed.
Sam McIntyre
Club: Burleigh Bears
The second-rower delivers 15 to 20 hit ups and 40-odd tackles every game, and often plays 80 minutes. Absolute workhorse.
Eni Folau
Club: Southport Tigers
The Tigers stalwart and brother of Israel is a tremendously hard-worker be it on game day or the training track.
Piki Te Ora Rogers
Club: Southport Tigers
It should come as no surprise he excels in the Tigers forward pack given he’s one of the club’s hardest workers.
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Originally published as Rugby League Gold Coast: We reveal the smartest players, best finishers, biggest hitters and more
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