Nudgee College smash Brisbane State High School at Suncorp Stadium

The full repertoire of Nudgee College’s pace and power game swamped Brisbane State High when GPS schools rugby took to the big stage at Suncorp Stadium. Read the report here.

Harry Vella (centre) celebrates his try. Picture: AAP Image/Darren England

The full repertoire of Nudgee College’s pace and power game swamped Brisbane State High when GPS schools rugby took to the big stage at Suncorp Stadium.

The blue-and-white machine had hit 50 points with 15 minutes still to play as they racked up 10 tries in the 62-21 landslide.

Powerful No.8 Titi Nofoagatotoa was the standout in the pack and the prestige of the occasion was obvious when he hurled the ball skyward after scoring the opening try.

Eyzaiah Ulia of Nudgee College tackles Wian Joubert of Brisbane State High. Picture: AAP

He scored another as the pack’s top ball-carrier and pumped his legs through 20m of defenders in one huge second half run.

Classy flyhalf Reesjan Pasitoa was a smart general and the Brumbies have signed a good one for their development ranks next season when Test flyhalf Christian Lealiifano moves to Japan.

His best moment late in the first half was a pinpoint crossfield kick that winger Dan Muller tapped inside for muscular prop Harry Vella to score.

Captain Vella has the mindset of a player for higher levels. He cursed dropping a pass early so he switched on, delivered a pass for a try, scored two himself and outscrummed the bigger State High front-row.

Trezman Banjo of Nudgee College goes on the attack. Picture: AAP Image/Dan Peled

For pure exhilaration, fullback Trezman Banjo was a magnet for the healthy crowd which had turned up early to watch and take advantage of the smart $10 ticket deal for school students on Test night.

It was more than pace that created the first of Muller’s two tries when he skirted wide to draw away the defence and then snapped a good pass inside to the winger.

Banjo showed no sign of the ankle injury that had delayed his start to the season and 20 rows of Nudgee students in full uniform roared when he slid in for his try right in front of them in the left corner.

Lastus Auakai of Nudgee College celebrates scoring a try. Picture: AAP Image/Dan Peled

“It was awesome to feel such enthusiasm with the school behind us at a great stadium,” Vella said.

Added coach Andrew Scotney: “Titi was probably our No.3 ball-carrier last year and he’s relishing being No.1 this season.

“I was really pleased with the four tries in a rush either side of half-time (31-7) because that’s the game.

“Trezman adds X-factor and pace but he sums up situations really well too.”

Hooker Ronin Nutley played strongly as did centre Lastus Auakai who used a piston fend to shed the tackle of Moses Jones to score his try.

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State High had battled hard to be just 21-7 down in sight of half-time thanks to a dash to the corner by red-haired lock Tom Duke but when both schools were searching for a new gear only Nudgee found it.

Flyhalf Jones, the younger brother of Quade Cooper, scored a determined try himself while the final State High try was a beauty when replacement winger Grant Tuisamoa scored a fine kick-and-regather try.

“We hung in well for most of the first half but it was game over with those back-to-back-to-back tries,” State High coach Pat Byron said.

Replacement halfback Jackson Connolly added spark and flanker-turned-centre Wian Joubert will trouble sides as the season rolls on.

NUDGEE COLLEGE 62 (D Muller 2, H Vella 2, T Nofoagatotoa 2, Lastus Auakai, T Banjo, R Mapa, R Pasitoa tries; R Pasitoa 5 con, B Dalle Cort con) bt BRISBANE STATE HIGH 21 (T Duke, M Jones, G Tuisamoa tries; M Jones 3 con)