GPS Rugby: Season round-up, prospects for each school team

CAPTAIN Harry Vella, Trezman Banjo, Reesjan Pasitoa and Titi Nofoagatotoa will be the core of the Class of 2019 when Nudgee College shoot for a hat-trick of GPS rugby premierships.

Jim Tucker@hulabulajim

4 min read

September 17, 2018 - 12:59PM

Rugby

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CAPTAIN Harry Vella, Trezman Banjo, Reesjan Pasitoa and Titi Nofoagatotoa will be the core of the Class of 2019 when Nudgee College shoot for a hat-trick of GPS rugby premierships. Here’s Jim Tucker’s report card on all the teams of 2018.

FINALE: Nudgee College v TSS in GPS decider

CASEY: Broncos bolt for dibs on Bowen-like talent

BILSTON: Top End fullback all class

The college is still on a high after last Saturday’s pulsating finale to the 100th year of GPS rugby when a classic 34-29 decider was wrestled from The Southport School.

Every GPS season is unique and the baton gets passed to a new, one-off band of players.

The polish to winger Jangala Bennet’s 15-try season made him the Nudgee standout.

Jangala Bennet was the standout performer for champions Nudgee College. Photo: AAP

Just as importantly, he was a riveting role model for young Banjo, still in Year 10, but already catching on fast with six of his own and the sidestepping break against TSS that set up the key Josh Flook try.

“Jangala was told he had some defensive deficiencies when he missed out on the Australian Schoolboys squad in July so he kicked cans for a few days,” Nudgee College coach Andrew Scotney said.

“He got his house in order before our first game and he’s been perfect, our best player, and he earned his way back into the Aussie Schools squads.”

Bennet, 18, has been included in the second-team Australian Schoolboys Barbarians side for two matches in Brisbane next month.

Nudgee’s Bailey Tautau and Pasitoa will be joined by Carter Gordon (Brisbane Boys’ College), Spencer Jeans (TSS), Tom Van der Schyff (TSS) and Tyrell Kopua (TSS) in the peak Australian Schoolboys team for the clash against NZ Schools at Ballymore on October 6.

Nudgee College’s Bailey Tautau made the Australian Schoolboys team. Photo: Mark Cranitch.

No. 8 Tautau’s thumping authority was vital against TSS while centre Flook and fullback Daniel Atkinson were high performers all season in the unbeaten 8-0 run.

THE SOUTHPORT SCHOOL (7-1)

Superb season and when the big, rumbling TSS pack got rolling, they were hard to contain as Toowoomba Grammar (67-12) and BBC (54-15) discovered.

The mid-season return of keg-chested No. 8 Reno Gerrard (eight tries) added more potency.

TSS No. 8 Reno Gerrard. Photo: MyEventPix.net (Adrian Gaglione).

Prop Zane Nonggorr, lock Wilson Blyth, centre Ronan Kapi and ginger halfback Spencer Jeans kept setting high standards.

Flyhalf Campbell Parata’s game management, neat inside passes and boot controlled the show and the next stage of his development will be in the academy system of the champion Crusaders in New Zealand.

Huge heart from the team to adapt and rally from 0-24 against Nudgee.

BRISBANE BOYS’ COLLEGE (5-3)

Pacy back three Shayden Stevens (11), Zavier Savage (seven) and Jack Bowyer (four) scored 22 tries between them as the perfect summation of where BBC’s strength lay.

The 29-22 win to close against Churchie was a complete contrast of styles against the short-passing, pick-and-drive masters.

Flanker Jacob Blyton broke his leg late in the season but his workhorse example won him BBC’s top rugby gong. Stevens was awarded best back.

BBC were a young side and influential outside centre Jack Howarth will be one of the trumps back next season.

CHURCHIE (5-3)

Flanker Will MacPherson was awarded the Bob Templeton Medal as high performer while silky fullback Wayne Bilston (best back), backrower Angus Ogilvie (best forward), centre Ben Stoddart (players’ player and best defender) and prop Max Drummond (most improved) stood out.

Churchie fullback Wayne Bilston. Photo: AAP

Enjoyed a five-game winning streak as one of the competition’s most disciplined teams when Darwin product Bilston grew in confidence and form.

Towering lock Fred Fewtrell’s impact forced a spot in the Australian Schoolboys Barbarians team.

BRISBANE STATE HIGH (4-4)

Excellent finish to the season with the upset of BBC and coming from behind to beat Ipswich Grammar 38-31 in the final game.

Versatile Wian Joubert was State High’s finest with non-stop showings and he’ll be a big element for 2019.

Centre Francis Pona’s experience, the bustle of hooker Nesta Mahina and a positive comeback at flyhalf from Moses Jones, after being dropped, were other features.

Francis Pona. Photo: AAP

TOOWOOMBA GRAMMAR (3-5)

Harassing defence generated the fine 27-22 finale against Terrace and season best-and-fairest Dougal Gray was at the heart of it as always.

Flanker Gray proved himself the archetypal openside with his presence over the ball and all-round input.

Bullocking No. 8 Ronin Hassall (five tries) was a big influence while Saturday’s hat-trick for Nicholas Simpson will be talked about as long as try-starved hookers roam the earth.

Final second drama doesn’t come greater than Jake Sargood’s sideline conversion at home to tame Ipswich Grammar 28-26 in Round Two.

GREGORY TERRACE (2-6)

Inconsistent season and two intercepted passes for Bennet tries were a killer when the whiff of an upset was on against Nudgee.

Standout flanker Will Roach ended the season on crutches after ankle surgery but not before imposing himself with his tackling, strong carries, work over the ball and his improved link play.

Centre Mayson Hill was a dangerous runner with a smart in-and-away and will be a positive for next year along with big forwards Xavier Boyle and Emerson Treasure.

BRISBANE GRAMMAR (1-7)

Should have pulled off the upset of the season from 20-all against TSS but it was a should-have, could-have campaign. Lost five times by a converted try or less which reflects the spirit of impressive prop and skipper Emile Tuimavave but also the team’s wasted chances.

Emile Tuimavave. Photo: AAP

Backrower Oscar Skerman was in everything and the Fyn Anderson try against Nudgee that involved the linking of locks Anthony Buswell and Will Egan demonstrated how Grammar could strike at their best.

IPSWICH GRAMMAR (1-7)

Played a fast-paced game with lots of off-loading and when it clicked best they rattled TSS before being beaten 48-38.

Lost to conversions on full-time against Toowoomba Grammar and Terrace so the final ledger could have been better.

Sharp-stepping fullback Tom Casey broke tackles at will to open the season while winger Ethan King (five tries), No. 8 Lance Bagon and centre Clyde Rapila were consistent performers.