Can BBC break 66-year drought or will Nudgee reign supreme again?

This Saturday BBC will be looking to take the biggest step in ending their 66 year premiership drought against Nudgee College who are hoping to win their 43rd title. SEE THE TEAM LISTS

IN 102 years of GPS Rugby, Brisbane Boys College haven’t won a GPS premiership outright, but this year may be their biggest ever chance.

This Saturday BBC will take on Rugby powerhouse Nudgee College in the battle of the undefeated at Miskin Oval in Toowong.

The 1954 BBC premiership winning side, the season was shortened due to heavy rain and the premiership was shared among four schools. Courtesy Helen Jackson, BBC OCA Archivist.

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Both teams still have a game left next weekend, but a win for either side will most likely determine the competition’s stand-alone premiers.

Despite boasting alumni like Will Genia, Dane Gagai and James Horwill, the first and only time BBC won a title was in 1954, sharing it with three other teams in a shortened season.

They fell agonisingly short last year losing to winners TSS by just three points.

BBC Coach Shane Drahm won multiple competitions with Nudgee and even has a son there, but his eyes are firmly set on breaking the longest active drought in GPS Rugby.

BBC centre Jack Howarth reacts against TSS during their GPS Rugby clash. Picture: Jason O'Brien

“For us it will be about controlling the pressure, making sure our environment is controlled, we’re managing the boys, we’re talking about next week and we’re managing the pressure not hiding from it,” Mr Drahm said.

“It’s a pity it’s in the middle of covid or else we would have had 10 or 11 thousand people here but interestingly we have had so much attention from old boys, from families or friends who might not have watched before,” Mr Drahm said.

Drahm says he has players of Queensland and Australian representative quality in fly half Mason Gordon, outside centre Jack Howarth and fullback Taj Annan.

“For Nudgee its normal, pretty much every year they’re playing for a premiership, for us probably last year was the first year we experienced that and I think it was a big factor why we crumbled a bit in the second half,” he said.

“The beauty of this year is we either win the premiership outright or we don’t win the premiership so it’s not going to be tied, we wither win it or lose it and that’s the beauty of First XV and why it’s one of the best comps in the world.”

“We get to play against one of the best Rugby school in Queensland if not Australia and I think last year was the first time we beat them on Ross Oval in thirty years and hopefully next week we’re one step closer to the premiership.”

BBC centre Jack Howarth in action against TSS during their GPS Rugby clash. Photograph : Jason O'Brien

BBC First XV Team List

1.Harvey Guest

2. Uhila Senituli

3. Henry Pettit

4. Hugo Perceval

5. Oliver Milne

6. Dimitrius Williams

7. Zac Hough

8. Thomas Wheen

9. Peron Faimalo

10. Mason Gordon

11. Jarrod Homan

12. Harry McLaughlin-Phillips

13. Jack Howarth

14. Lachlan Rubens

15. Taj Annan

Head Coach: Shane Drahm

Nudgee First XV Team List

1. Will Jones

2. Oahu Davey-Phillips

3. Harrison Swane

4. Daniel Maiava-Tapusoa

5. Oliver Harvey

6. Maea Mitchell

7. Noah Brogden

8. Liam Le Blanc

9. Oscar Varricchio

10. Benn Dalle Cort

11. Sione Tapuosi

12. Lastus Auakai

13. Robert Toia

14. Robert Mapa

15. Hunter O’Sullivan

Head Coach: Andrew Scotney

GPS First XV Rugby Union Nudgee College vs St Josephs Gregory Terrace. Nudgee #12 Lastus Auakai. August 8, 2020. Picture: Renae Droop

Nudgee on the other hand are very aware of the talent BBC have, but it’s just another week and it is another year for the school so used to big games.

“It will be a pretty normal week of preparation and we just have to have a plan and stick to it and see how the cards fall,” Nudgee Director of Rugby and assistant coach Sean Graham said.

“We know they’re good, they have got threats across the park, and they have a good kicking game and a good set-piece. We will have to have a good week of preparation.”

“We had a few little bumps today (Saturday) so we will have to sort out what our 15 is going to look like with a few question marks on a few positions but we will settle on that early in the week.”

Nudgee’s best in 2020 has been Captain Lastus Auakai but the team is extremely well drilled and it is hard to find a weakness in the side.

If Nudgee win they still have to beat the underrated Churchie next weekend to secure the premiership.

BBC will have to beat Brisbane State High School next weekend to win the premiership outright if they beat Nudgee.

Ipswich will face Southport, Toowoomba Grammar will host Churchie, Brisbane Grammar will play Brisbane State High and St Joseph’s Gregory Terrace have the bye.

Originally published as Can BBC break 66-year drought or will Nudgee reign supreme again?