GPS Rugby: How deep does the Terrace-Nudgee rivalry run?

“Stiggy” Batia ran roughshod over the GPS rugby comp in 1997. But just as quickly as he flashed onto the scene, the Nudgee winger was gone again, heading back home to PNG. Read the amazing story here.

The name Steve “Stiggy” Batia still evokes awe among those who watched him or tried to catch the lightning strike who illuminated the GPS rugby season in 1997.

For as long as the classic Nudgee College-Gregory Terrace rivalry has been going, there have been special players and moments to elevate this one day of the year.

The latest chapter will unfold on Saturday from 2.15pm at a packed Ross Oval where quicksilver Nudgee favourite Trezman Banjo or Terrace’s Glen Vaihu may just create a memory for life.

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Trezman Banjo of Nudgee College (centre) in action during the St Joseph’s Nudgee College and Brisbane State High School GPS Rugby match at Suncorp Stadium. Picture: AAP Image/Dan Peled

In 1997, a boarder from Papua New Guinea created a season for the ages.

He set the all-time GPS try-scoring record of 19 in just seven games because he missed one.

Batia scored five tries on one breathless afternoon against Brisbane Boys’ College and savoured an undefeated premiership with a side which outscored opponents 47 tries to one.

Nudgee College winger Steve 'Stiggy' Batia in full flight against Brisbane Boys College in 1997. Batia scored four tries. Picture: David Pickersgill

A two-try blast in the 1997 Battle of the Colours cemented his legacy in a 43-3 win that was then the largest margin over Terrace since the schools first duelled in the 1890s.

Halfback Ben Wakely, a Nudgee teammate in that champion 1997 team, is still in awe of Batia’s deeds.

“The best winger I’ve seen ever, ever,” said Wakely with his real estate agent’s flourish.

“He didn’t like weights or even training particularly but he was a freak footballer who could step off both feet and make chasers look like they were running on a treadmill.

“I can still remember him stepping nine or 10 BBC boys one day.

“They talk about the State High dream team of 2009 and Kalyn Ponga’s Churchie side of 2014 but that Nudgee team of ‘97, with five Australian Schoolboys, has to be compared with the best ever.”

Leading schoolboys coach Tom Barker put Batia on the radar of Australian sevens selectors in 1998 but nothing came of it.

His talent disappeared from Queensland almost as quickly as it arrived but he’s still in touch by text with his 1997 mates while running the family hardware business in PNG today.

That’s the thing about schoolboy footy...there are always 1000 different answers when you ask: “Who was the best schoolboy player you ever saw?”

How deep does the Terrace-Nudgee rivalry run?

It was so ingrained in the McBain family that the threat of being marched off to boarding school was the biggest stick in the house.

Former Wallaby Mark McBain.

Mark, a Wallaby hooker of the future, shared an undefeated 1977 premiership with Terrace, who went on to win five in a row.

“My father (Ian) was a boarder at Nudgee and if ever I got into strife at home, the biggest punishment he had was barking: ‘I’ll send you to Nudgee to board’,” McBain said.

“I behaved because I never wanted to to be sent there.

“Nudgee-Terrace is always full of drama and playing in front of that packed, roaring grandstand of schoolboys all in uniform at Ross Oval is without compare.”

The 1979 Gregory Terrace First XV. Joint premiers in GPS rugby with future Wallabies Michael Lynagh (far left, middle row), Michael Cook (second from right, middle row) and Damien Frawley (fourth from right, middle row). Picture: Supplied

Nudgee College: Athen Waia, Daniel Muller, Eyzaiah Ulia, Lastus Auakai, Trezman Banjo, Reesjan Pasitoa, Finn Hearn, Titi Nofoagatota, Mitch Lowrie, Jock Thompson, Lemau ‘Daniel’ Maiava-Tapusoa, Charlie Hayes, Harry Vella (c), Ronin Nutley, Will Jones.

Gregory Terrace: Quinn Siolo, Ben Hearne, Glen Vaihu, Jordyn Bell, David Vaihu, Patrick Elekana, Henry Davis, Aidan Chambers, Louis Jorgensen (c), Charles Condon, Xavier Boyle, Fergus Nasser, Ezekiel Amituanai, Rory Slevin, Emerson Treasure.