GPS rugby: BSHS ‘dream team’ set to reunite in club competition

They averaged over 50 points a match in an undefeated season, now these celebrated GPS players are hatching a plan to get the band back together in club rugby.

A decade on from the most dominant schoolboy season in GPS history, the Brisbane State High School “Dream Team” of 2009 has hatched a plan to reunite in club rugby.

Queensland Reds Chris Feauai-Sautia and Curtis Browning starred as Grade 10 students in an ensemble cast of nine Australian Schoolboys, who went on to average over 50 points a match in an undefeated season.

GPS rugby: Conor Tweedy back as manager of Terrace First XV

GPS curtain-raiser: Will Quade Cooper join brother on big stage?

GPS Rugby: Nudgee College v TSS in GPS decider

They were the first team in GPS history to crack that mark, but the stars of the team are plotting to align once again when their professional rugby careers draw to a close.

Their First XV captain Jordan Tuapou said the team had already booked in their first selection meeting under the guise of a 10-year reunion when State High take on Nudgee College at Suncorp Stadium in a month’s time.

“The boys have all gone on to be bigger and better things in rugby, all over the world, but we all still talk,” the former Australian Sevens rep said.

“Hopefully when everyone’s finished up with their careers we can get together and have a run around together again.”

Captain Jordan Tuapou scores a try for State High back in the day.

Curtis Browning in action for the Reds

Prop Paul Alo-Emile and Browning play professionally in France, winger Matt Garland in New Zealand, while Tuapou (Norths) and Rohan Saifoloi (Brothers) are back from Sydney club stints.

The bonds connecting the 15 young men stretch further than their time in GPS Rugby’s first super-team.

Friendships were forged while competing with and against each other in their club rugby sides at the Queensland state championships, before making the pact to join each other at Brisbane State High.

“Everyone had the same ambition to pursue rugby as a career, so we all had that (professional) mindset,” Tuapou said.

“You could tell the boys who had the work ethic and wanted to go far and would work for it.

“It was a brotherhood… we wanted to be role models for the school.”

Brisbane State High players pictured 10 years ago (clockwise from front left) Matt Ika, Paul Alo-Emile, Joel Faulkner, Matthew Garland, Curtis Browning, Christopher Feauai-Sautia, Jordan Tuapou (captain) and Rohan Saifuloi (vice-captain) .

The 2019 First XV were practically in nappies when the “Dream Team” earned that title, but channelling their brotherhood will be vital when they take on competition heavyweights Nudgee and Southport back-to-back early in the season.

It’s a fortnight that will dictate their season.

Returning players including powerful prop Linston Tafa-Tuimavave and redheaded backrowers Wian Joubert and Tom Duke will provide a mean streak up front that coaches hope will free up space for X-factors out wide.

The school have snapped up the services of premiership-winning Churchie coach Michael Lucas to orchestrate their set piece under Wests first grade coach Pat Byron.

The playmaking reins are in the hands of Moses Jones.

Wian Joubert in action for Brisbane State High School last season. Picture: AAP/David Clark

The mercurial Jones was thrown into the deep end as a Year 11 starting flyhalf last year, was dropped but bounced back with a strong performance in the upset of BBC to close out the season.

The development of Jones will help dictate whether this crop of State High athletes can scale the heights of GPS Rugby like the Dream Team did before them.

BSHS premierships: 16

Most recent: 2016

BSHS Team of the Decade (2010-2019) so far

1. Lloyd Gorman (2016)

2. Nesta Mahina (2018)

3. Moses Alo-Emile (2017)

4. Curtis Browning (2011)

5. Tuaina Tualima (2014)

6. Josh Fenner (2016)

7. Adam Korczyk (2012)

8. Pat Tafa (2016)

9. Neal McNamara (2016)

10. Liam McNamara (2014)

11. Chris Feauai-Sautia (2011)

12. Quinton Mahina © (2016)

13. Samu Kerevi (2011)

14. Jordan Petaia (2018)

15. Murray Taulagi (2017)