GPS First XV rugby Team of the Week
GPS First XV rugby round 3 stunner translates into powerhouse Team of the Week which includes players from every school. See who made the side here.
Regional News
Don't miss out on the headlines from Regional News. Followed categories will be added to My News.
It is the closest GPS First XV premiership race in years and round four could not come any sooner on Saturday.
But first let us peer back a few days and pluck out the leading players from a round which saw three fixtures go down to the wire, and a fourth - between TSS and TGS - swing in the balance until late.
ROUND 3 DEBUT BOYS, SPEED DEMONS
TEAM OF THE WEEK
15. Dylan Terblanche (TSS)
Terblanche relished the stability of his forwards and halves this week.
He had excellent positional play, counter attacked dangerously and used his pace to chase Tom Goldie box kicks which helped turn defensive ball into attack.
What a start to the season this kid has had.
14. Amaziah Murgha (IGS)
Murgha’s first starting match of the season came at fullback where he was dynamic with his speed, both running the ball but also in cover defence.
He played fullback, but to get him and Terblanche into the side, we named Murgha on the wing.
13. Tai Taka (BBC)
The Year 11 student is a wildcard talent for the future because of his attacking game, but made our side this week for his blanket defence alongside his centre partner Howarth and against the opposition’s two slick opponents - IGS pair Grey and Kendell.
12. Frank Howarth (BBC)
Howarth was a pillar of strength with his crash ball running from inside centre, but he joined Taka in a quick moving defensive line which restricted IGS’s dangerous attacking game.
He has been a standout for BBC in both games to begin this season.
11. Will Bloxham (Churchie)
Bloxham was to the forefront of Churchie’s best performance so far this season, with his thrilling attack and courageous defence symbolic of his team’s performance against Nudgee.
10. Dallas Ingram (TSS)
Ingram’s running game complemented the performance of his forwards and the service from his halfback Tom Goldie.
He challenged the TGS defence by taking on the line where his stepping back on the inside threatened, and when it was time for the backs’ ball, he released possession to his run-hungry centres.
9. Tom Goldie (TSS)
Goldie was at his precise best until forced off midway through the second half.
With astute box kicking turning defence into attack, pin point service for his forwards and backs unique vision which saw him create a try for winger Kingston Seve with a super long pass, Goldie was the complete halfback package.
8. Dyer Akauola (BGS)
Young Brisbane Grammar No.8 Dyer Akauola had his breakout game in just match No.2 of his debut First XV season.
The mobile backrower was amped up in a clash where effort plays were everything and big Akauola was ever-present in the defensive line where he made a driving tackle and a try saving cover tackle.
He also scored one of two tries scored on the day.
7. Will Devine (Terrace)
After all Terrace lock Will Devine did make the crucial try saving tackle which prevented Brisbane Grammar from stealing the game at the death.
But before putting his body on the line and holding his rival up over the chalk, Devine was a terrific lineout disrupter and a workhorse on both sides of the ball.
6. Tom Wood (Churchie)
It was a pitched battle against Nudgee, a real scrap and Wood seemed to absorb the occasion. He carried strongly and generated multiple turnovers which swung possession back to his side.
5. Matt Schiebel (IGS)
The towering Schiebel was as safe as a bank in the lineout, produced a couple of runs and when BBC altered its attacking game in the second half to go more direct, Schiebel was up to the defensive challenge. He also got himself low and under the ball when BBC seemed certain to score a pick and drive try. It was great desperation.
4. Ed Kasprowicz (Nudgee)
Multiple times during the second half Kasprowicz disrupted Churchie’s line out ball which led to Nudgee winning back possession. This included a line out which directly led to Nudgee’s second half try that put the side up 19-15. Along with Bennett Armistead, Adam Latham and Hugo Hart, Nudgee had an imposing line out.
3. Charlie Hollyman (Terrace)
It’s not hard to tell that Charlie Hollyman had representative experience with the Queensland Reds Under-16s last Spring.
On Saturday, with low body height and strong leg drive, second year First XV tighthead Hollyman had his way shedding first tackles to power Terrace over the advantage line.
He was arguably the best or comfortably in the top three players on the ground.
2. John Grenfell (Nudgee)
Nudgee skipper Grenfell was magnificent again and lapped up the close quarter contact.
He also reclaimed possession if Churchie’s lineout ball missed its mark over the back and cleverly positioned himself wide of a maul to score the first try when he glimpsed a channel to the line.
1. Barry Smith (BGS)
Big Barry Smith had himself a cracking game of footy out at Northgate, snaring a handful of overthrown lineouts and bustling through the centrefield to get Brisbane Grammar rolling.
The powerful loosehead prop proved a handful to bring to ground and BGS were at their most threatening after Tristan Knudsen, Barry Smith and Tim Alport had got their hands dirty close to the line.
RESERVES
Oscar Donovan (BBC)
For will and effort, prop Donovan thoroughly deserves his place in this company.
Against a big Ipswich pack, he struggled and wriggled and fought his way around the field when carrying the ball, finding leg drive under fatigue to still drag his team to the gain line or beyond it.
He also made his tackles when occasionally isolated.
Jean-Paul Sia (IGS)
Sia was a thumping prime mover who challenged the advancing BBC defensive line, someone who always laid the ball back decisively for his teammates in contact.
He had a high work rate and would have earned the respect of the opposition with his driving runs and tackles.
William Pamenter (IGS)
Aside from his set piece commitments, Pamenter’s ball carrying took on BBC’s pack and he was also the primary man involved in a clever switch play away from the blindside from the line out which saw him run to the open side and pass wide.
This switch in play led to teammate Murgha opening the scoring.
Cooper Eagle (BBC)
When IGS went wide to one of their primary runners, Jean-Paul Sia, it was Eagles who stood in his way.
While Eagle’s statistics would not be off the chart for this match, his general leadership and physical pressure in defence played its role in a hard away win.
Ethan Ramsay (TGS)
Ramsay was outstanding at flanker on both sides of the ball. TSS had giants lined up across the field, but he went where angels feared to tread.
It is the second time this season Ramsay, whose sister Ella is representing Australia in the pool at the Paris Olympics, has made the Team of the Week squad.
Tristan Knudson (BGS)
Brisbane Grammar’s loosehead prop in 2023 has come back bigger, stronger and more experienced this season and it showed on Saturday.
Now a tighthead prop, Knudson was one of his team’s prime movers when the home side got within striking distance of Terrace’s tryline.
In the scrum he was faultless as well.
Ben Burgess (TGS)
Burgess used his speed as both an attacking and defensive weapon.
He was a dangerous runner, but also used his speed to hare after clearing kicks before driving in at the legs of the returning ball carrier - no matter their size.
Joe McGahan (Terrace)
In a scrappy affair out at Northgate, the goalkicking of fullback McGahan and territorial kicking was the difference between the two sides in the end.
McGahan went four-from-four off the tee and despite touching the ball more than anyone receiving Elijah Breen and Zac Reader’s kicks, he did not make a mistake and was decisive with his exits.
Tyler Maybery (BBC)
He scored two tries, was influential in earning a penalty try and was generally earnest against quality opposition.
While he crossed for two tries, Maybery didn’t just switch on when BBC were closing in. The inspiring BBC captain was all effort on the defensive end.
George Hales (Terrace)
Who remembers Archie Xavier from Gregory Terrace’s 2021 and 2022 campaigns?
There is a bit about Xavier to Terrace’s current scrumhalf, the scheming Hales who plays a fast, up tempo game where he is more than willing to go himself.
In three games so far this season, Hales’ running game has been a point of difference for Terrace The Brave.
TEAMS
ROUND 2 TEAMS; FIVE THINGS WE LEARNED
SPECIAL MENTIONS
Tyson Walker (IGS)
Myles Rosemond (TGS)
Marlon Frost (IGS)
Oli Akhavan (BGS)
Jack Callega (IGS)
Sam Bolam (BGS)
Charlie Cross (Terrace)
Bennett Armistead (Nudgee)
Finn Kendall (IGS)
ROUND 4
BSHS v Ipswich Grammar School
Nudgee College v Brisbane Grammar School
BBC v The Southport School
Toowoomba Grammar School v Churchie
Originally published as GPS First XV rugby Team of the Week
1000+ photos: Qld’s ultimate school formals gallery of 2024
Fun and fashion have been the name of the game as Queensland high school students glammed up for formal season in 2024. ALL THE SNAPS
‘Tragic, unexpected loss’: Qld district court judge mourned after death
A former Queensland district judge who presided over major cases including the boyfriend of ‘girl in the cupboard’ Natasha Ryan has died after a short battle with illness. TRIBUTE