Burleigh Bears halfback to captain Vikings in 2019 title defence
The A-Grade and Under-20 Vikings teams have been finalised, with some surprising additions and omissions. READ THE FULL LISTS.
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Conner Toia will captain a new-look Gold Coast Vikings in their Chairman’s Challenge title defence when the annual southeast Queensland representative showpiece event kicks off on Saturday in Brisbane.
Only three players – Jack Mackin, Michael Gray and Kody Parsons – return for the Vikings from the side which lifted the trophy in 2019.
Under new coach Wayne Forbes, who replaces the outgoing Scott Cooke, the Vikings will blood 15 debutantes.
Twelve of the 18 named players come from last season’s two grand finalists – four from premiers Runaway Bay, while Burleigh will supply eight.
Burleigh halfback Toia will be partnered in the halves by Bears teammate Shallin Fuller, with rake Jordan Scott also named, completing an all-Burleigh playmaking core.
Former Queensland Rangers representative and 2019 title-winner Mackin returns to his favoured number one jersey, with Seagulls teammate Queille Murray on the wing.
Mudgeeraba prop Jack Glossop, fresh from an Intrust Super Cup debut for Tweed, joins teammate, centre Brogan Melrose, in the 18-man travelling party.
Gray and Parsons, both at Tugun, will come off the bench.
Standout Currumbin Eagles back-rower Stuart Mason and breakout Ormeau pivot Allan White are the sole representatives from their respective teams.
Runaway Bay wrecking ball Doryaan Hape Apiata will travel with the team as the sole reserve.
“We could have picked 36,” Forbes said.
“We could have taken two teams up there and both would have been competitive – that’s the amount of talent we have on the Coast at the moment.”
A-GRADE VIKINGS
1. Jack Mackin
2. Queille Murray
3. Allan Lockwood
4. Brogan Melrose
5. Latrelle Howe
6. Shallin Fuller
7. Conner Toia (C)
8. Jack Glossop
9. Jordan Scott
10. Stuart Mason
11. Lochlyn Sheldon
12. Luke Burton
13. Dylan Kelly
14. Ben Valeni
15. Mike Gray
16. Kody Parsons
17. Allan White
18. Doryaan Hape Apiata
UNDER-20 VIKINGS
1. Josh Munckton
2. Kyle Ferguson
3. Jack Ward
4. Brent Barnes
5. Josh Evans
6. Ty Han
7. Harry Bryant
8. Ben Kay
9. Brooklyn Stanley
10. Stepharn Holo
11. Adam Christensen
12. Harry Vousty
13. Luc Lyndon
14. Brandon Ewing
15. Erris Kane
16. Coen Rankmore
17. Lucky Poki Poki
18. Tramaine Harry
FIXTURES
Friday, April 30
Under 20s: Brisbane v Ipswich 7:00pm
Saturday, May 1
Under 20s: Gold Coast v Ipswich 11:00am
A Grade: Gold Coast v Brisbane Blue 12:30pm
A Grade: Brisbane Red v Ipswich 2:00pm
Sunday, May 2
Under 20s: Brisbane v Gold Coast 11:00am
A Grade: Brisbane Red v Gold Coast 12:30pm
A Grade: Brisbane Blue v Ipswich 2:00pm
Code-hopper’s shock rep selection opens door for league return
CALLUM Burgess-Boomer was left scratching his head when one of his mates messaged to congratulate him on his selection in Gold Coast’s Chairman’s Challenge squad.
The 22-year-old, who crossed for seven tries in nine games for Southport last season, did a double take when former Coombabah SHS schoolmate and current Burleigh Bears livewire Taine Tuaupiki reached out on Monday.
“We have a group chat from when we were back at school and he messaged to say ‘congrats bro, can’t wait to play with you again it’s been years’,” Burgess-Boomer said.
“I hadn’t heard anything about it … I was a bit shocked actually.”
The one-time Tweed Seagulls Intrust Super Cup player was one of the top finishers in the RLGC A-Grade competition last season.
His decision to switch to rugby, and play for the defending GCDRU premiers Griffith Uni College Knights this year, shocked many – including those at Southport.
“Rugby is good. I’m enjoying it – it’s different. I’m slowly learning the game,” Burgess-Boomer said.
“The lads have all been very welcoming. I can’t thank them enough and I’m looking forward to the year.”
But now, having already made peace with spending at least a year away from rugby league, Burgess-Boomer admitted this latest representative nod had thrown a spanner in the works.
“I switched over to union this year just for a change, for something new, but then my name pops up here,” he said.
“I think I’ll go to (training on) Wednesday and see what happens.
“If the opportunity comes up (to play in the Chairman’s Challenge) I don’t see why not.”
The classy outside back said he had also been tapped by his former club to play games on days his rugby commitments did not intersect.
“I think they’re trying to get me to play the Sunday games. I’ll see what happens. I’ve got a family to think about as well,” Burgess-Boomer said.
If he does choose to juggle both codes, he will join the likes of Runaway Bay big man Doryaan Hape Apiata and Tugun’s Corey Morris as dual-code athletes.
“He’s a good mate of mine, Dors (Hape Apiata),” Burgess-Boomer said.
“Rugby league will always be part of me. I’ll never rule it out.”
The A-Grade and U20s squads will convene for three training sessions in the next fortnight, with squads to be whittled down ahead of the May 1-2 competition in Brisbane.
REVEALED: Gold Coast Vikings squads for Chairman’s Challenge
BURLEIGH will provide the most players of any club to the Gold Coast Vikings A-Grade squad following the announcement of the 25-man list on Monday.
Nine Bears were named in the squad for the annual Chairman’s Challenge featuring representative teams from the Gold Coast, Brisbane and Ipswich competitions.
Reigning Rugby League Gold Coast premiers Runaway Bay had five players named in the squad, followed by Southport (four), Tugun (three), Mudgeeraba (two) and Ormeau and Currumbin (one each).
No Helensvale players were named in the A-Grade squad.
In the Under-20s, Runaway Bay leads the way with seven entries in the squad of 25, ahead of Currumbin, Helensvale and Burleigh – all with five inclusions.
Ormeau (two) and Southport (one) round out the squad, with neither Tugun or Mudgeeraba providing players for the 20s.
Training will be held at Robina Raptors on Wednesday, April 21, Tuesday April 27 and Thursday, April 29.
Squads will then be cut ahead of the Chairman’s Challenge over the weekend of May 1 and 2.
CHAIRMAN’S CHALLENGE A-GRADE SQUAD:
Alan Lockwood (Burleigh)
Alan White (Ormeau)
Ben Valeni (Burleigh)
Melrose Brogan (Mudgeeraba)
Callum Burgess-Boomer (Southport)
Connor Toia (Burleigh)
Darcy Sims (Runaway Bay)
Doryaan Hape Apiata (Runaway Bay)
Dylan Kelly (Burleigh)
Jack Conlan (Southport)
Jack Cook (Southport)
Jack Glossop (Mudgeeraba)
Jack Mackin (Runaway Bay)
Jarred Morphett (Southport)
Jordan Scott (Burleigh)
Kody Parson (Tugun)
Lionel Johnson (Tugun)
Lochlyn Sheldon (Burleigh)
Luke Burton (Runaway Bay)
Mike Gray (Tugun)
Queille Murray (Runaway Bay)
Reece Summer (Burleigh)
Shallin Fuller (Burleigh)
Stuart Mason (Currmbin)
Taine Tuaupiki (Burleigh)
CHAIRMAN’S CHALLENGE U20 SQUAD:
Ty Han (Runaway Bay)
Jack Ward (Runaway Bay)
Carn Connell (Runaway Bay)
Brent Barnes (Helensvale)
Kyle Ferguson (Helensvale)
Josh Evans (Helensvale)
Tramaine Harry (Helensvale)
Noaha Gafa (Burleigh)
Josh Munckton (Currumbin)
Stepharn Hola (Ormeau)
Coen Rankmore (Ormeau)
Ben Kay (Helensvale)
Adam Christensen (Runaway Bay)
Matt Kinchin (Runaway Bay)
Lucky Poki Poki (Runaway Bay)
Taanei Heau (Currumbin)
Nick Ploegsma (Currumbin)
Luc Lyndon (Currumbin)
Harry Vousty (Burleigh)
Jake Kearton (Burleigh)
Erris Kane (Runaway Bay)
Nelson Ewing (Burleigh)
Harry Bryant (Currumbin)
Brooklyn Stanley (Southport)
Brandon Ewing (Burleigh)
’We were the small team’: Towering props recall Redbacks start
STANDING well-clear of 190cm and weighing in at a combined 250kg, it’s hard to believe best mates Trevino Betham and Jackson Gisinger were “always in the small team” as juniors.
It was as partnering props in an U12 Mudgeeraba Redbacks side which managed just one win almost a decade ago that the two forged an inseparable bond.
Now that bond is being put to the test by Redbacks A-Grade coach Wayne Forbes.
Returned from a self-imposed two-year footy hiatus, Betham, 21, has rejoined Gisinger, also 21, at Firth Park and thrown a spanner in the works.
“They’re competing for the same spot,” Forbes declared.
Following the Redbacks’ successful foray into the Rugby League Gold Coast A-Grade ranks last season, ending in a finals appearance, expectations are high and competition for spots fierce.
“We’re like best mates,” Betham said. “Up until recently we even worked together for the past four years.
“We met through footy and have been mates ever since.
“ (Gisinger) is a good bloke; real ‘kind giant’ kinda dude.
“He’d be just about the biggest bloke in the comp I reckon, but our fittest forward for sure as well. It’s scary. I just have to try to keep up with him.”
For two mates who took pride in the friendly ribbing of each other, the pair would only say nice things about the other when it came to footy.
Tipping the scales at 130kg, Gisinger cuts an imposing figure on the field but it’s Betham who he says hits the hardest.
“Trevino has that bit of mongrel – that extra little bit that you want to see in your team. He’s the bloke that will fire you up,” Gisinger said.
“And you’ve seen the shoulders on him – if he hits you, it’s not going to feel nice.”
Rather than fight against each other for the single starting spot, Betham and Gisinger have spent the off-season running extras together – bettering each other, for the good of the Redbacks.
“I think that’s one of the things that brought him back. He’s coming into this season as fit as ever,” Gisinger said.
“It’s good fun … training with one of your best mates. It’s all friendly competition.”
The two agreed that no matter who gets the nod come Round 1, there will be “no hard feelings”.
“The coach has to put the best team on the park each week. If that means I’m not there, or he’s not there, or we’re both not there, it’s all about team-first,” Betham said.
“We’re all here to do a job. There’s no hard feelings.”
Under Forbes, the Redbacks are building something special said Gisinger.
“There’s pressure on Forbesy to see if he can deliver again … we know he can.”
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