StoreLocal Hospital Cup round one Team of the Week revealed here following bumper start to club rugby
Club rugby Team of the Week: A brilliant flanker from Souths, Sunnybank’s captain, ace forwards and backs from GPS and an elite Wests centre named in the StoreLocal Hospital Cup round one side.
Sport
Don't miss out on the headlines from Sport. Followed categories will be added to My News.
The first round of the StoreLocal Hospital Cup has been and gone and here we unveil the first Team of the Week of the season.
Sunnybank showed glimpses of what is to come in their 18-15 thwarting of Bond University, at Bond University.
GPS tamed the Tigers 35-15 in front of a healthy crowd at Yoku road, Souths got off to a 45-17 winning start over a tricky Norths outfit and Wests asserted their dominance with a 43-17 win over University at Sci-Fleet Stadium.
At Chipsy Wood Oval, Reds Academy ace Will McCulloch came off the bench (due to Reds workload management) for the final 20 minutes of the game and made an immediate impact.
Although it was too late to come back, McCulloch raised eyebrows with his electric cameo off the Norths’ bench.
“Far out mate that kid is something special,” said Souths coach Garrick Morgan.
“He beats two tackles every time.
“He is a superstar in the making that kid. I rate him very highly.”
STORELOCAL HOSPITAL CUP RD 1 TEAM OF THE WEEK
1 Jake Simeon (GPS)
Old head Simeon was a blue collar worker for 80 minutes, earning player of the match honours at GPS.
The loose-head was an automatic selection due to playing a full game and he spearheaded a strong scrum from GPS.
2 Tevita Kaituu (GPS)
Battling away alongside Simeon was hooker Kaituu who was top notch for 75 minutes.
Power personified.
3 Henry Wilson (Easts)
The 21-year-old debutant played open side flanker but to get him in the team we shifted him to the front row.
A Colts 1 product of the club, Wilson was an absolute workhorse who thrived in the heat of battle.
He was a standout.
4 Xavier Boyle and his flanker George Stoddart (Easts)
Towering lock Boyle and young veteran George Stoddart (flanker) put in enormous efforts for the Tigers.
Both just 21 years of age, the former Colts 1 teammates followed suit of hardworking breakaway Wilson and took it to the physical GPS forwards.
It was as if they’d been playing first grade for years.
5 Zac Shepherd (Sunnybank)
The Sunnybank captain’s leadership shone through, the lock keeping the young ‘Bank boys in check throughout.
X-factor was not a question with the Dragons side, but it was Shepherd’s controlling game style which was the difference in the forwards.
6 Conor Chittenden (Norths)
Chittenden started the game at outside centre before moving into the back row where he made an impact.
He was top tier and has likely found a home in the back row.
7 Kohan Herbert (Souths)
You can expect 110 per cent from this bloke every game and on Saturday he produced another titanic 80 minute performance.
He bagged two tries and looked like a centre out there. “I am blessed with that back row,” said Morgan.
8 Sean Farrell (Souths)
The smart No. 8 was a man on a mission, making ground with every carry.
The hybrid player is more than capable of playing anywhere in the back row.
9 Jordan Lenac (Bond University)
The Dragons halfback could not have been more impressive. He had a high work rate, earning him a place in this side just ahead of Easts scrumhalf Eli Pilz who was strong.
10 Moses Sorovi (Wests)
Despite missing valuable playing time in some of the trial matches, Sorovi looked in fine form at flyhalf.
A scrum half at heart, Sorovi was a tremendous link between Louis Werchon (scrum half) and outside backs Spicer, David Vaihu, Mosese Dawai, Henry Speight and Charlie Tupu.
He scored two tries.
11 Kye Oates (University)
When Oates had the ball in hand he was dangerous.
On multiple occasions the representative winger made little half breaks which were just what his team needed to get on the front foot.
12 Liam McNamara (Sunnybank)
At the end of the day, he is an experienced campaigner.
He understands rugby IQ and he is one of those players that helps his teammates get better.
That’s his calling card, and on Saturday he scored two tries as an added bonus.
But it was more the work off the ball that earned him a spot here, McNamara putting the ‘Bank forwards in the right places and managing the close game.
13 Taj Annan (Souths)
The slick Reds playmaker was all class in a 75 minute showcase, showing his versatility by starting the game at fly half and moving into outside centre in the second half.
The more he touches the ball, the better off Souths will be.
14 Floyd Aubrey (GPS)
21-year-old Murgon fullback Floyd Aubrey started his 2024 campaign wonderfully with a smart quick-tap in the first half sparking the Gallopers with a try.
Aubrey was safe under the high ball, aggressive with his incursions and offered plenty on both sides of the ball.
15 Fletcher Spicer (Wests)
Ever-improving midfielder Fletcher Spicer continued his rise to being one of the competition’s most reliable centres.
At the weekend, he was in everything, setting up tries and scoring them as well.
He was first class.
Special mentions:
Junior Laloifi (Sunnybank)
He proved more than a handful last season with his line breaking ability and he showed his class again on Saturday.
Eli Pilz (Easts)
It wasn’t the performance Easts would have been hoping for but in a losing side, scrum half Eli Pilz was strong.
His kicking game was a standout, on one occasion earning Easts a 50-22.
Saiasi Qiokata (Souths)
A strongly built winger who weights over 100 kilograms, Qiokata begun season 2024 with a bang.
He made no mistakes, held his feet in tackles and did all the right things.
Qiokata played outside centre last season but has found a home on the wing.
Lachlan Stewart (Souths)
Coming back from a shoulder reconstruction, fullback Stewart shone with his kicking game, alongside Taj Annan, helping Souths march up the field.
Jordan Luke (Norths)
The Norths winger returned from injury like a beast, making countless second efforts on defence to inspire his side.
Defensively outstanding.
Oliver Bartlett (GPS)
GPS’ newest skipper had a terrific debut as captain of the team.
He scored a try, was a key cog in GPS’ strong scrum and rolling maul and was a steady head guiding new players around.
Campbell Moller and Nakoa Marcroft (GPS)
In their first grade debuts for the club, centres Moller and Marcroft were defensive powerhouses.
Moller, a Colts 1 premiership winner with the club, roared onto the first grade scene with a couple of big hits while Marcroft, also a strong defender, showed glimpses of his dominant running game.
Thunder and Lightning.
Shaun Anderson (GPS)
The damaging outside centre was shifted to the wing and dazzled with countless positive touches and strong incursions into the line.
He continued to flourish following last year’s breakout season that culminated in Reds Development XV selection.
Hamish Roberts (Bond University)
Roberts earns a special mention because of his effort both on and off the ball. The speedy winger had his work boots on for round 1, that’s for sure.
Jack Brady (University)
The second rower got through a ton of work and was dominant in both the scrum and lineout.
Niven Longopoa (University)
He was solid at the back and used that educated left boot of his to get University great field position.
He chewed up plenty of metres with booming kicks under pressure, but there was virtually no way through the Wests defensive line.
Revealed: The top 50 AFL Cairns players
Following an outstanding season, we’ve compiled a list of the top 50 players from the AFL Cairns men’s competition. SEE THE FULL RANKINGS INSIDE AND SHARE YOUR THOUGHTS >>>
POLL: The best rugby league clubs in regional Queensland
Rugby league clubs from Townsville, Mackay, Rockhampton, Cairns, the Sunshine Coast, Toowoomba and Mount Isa feature in our list of the best local clubs in regional Queensland. Have your say on which club is the best in regional Queensland.