‘Clicked into gear’: Why Knights are back on track, best outside backs of GCDRU revealed

Get to know the greatest outside backs of GCDRU first grade, and hear from Colleges head coach Shaun Cole why his Knights are back on track for round 7. Full details inside:

GCDRU seniors round 6 - 1st grade Bond Pirates v Colleges Knights. Connor Kennedy. 11 May 2024 Miami Picture by Richard Gosling

The South Queensland Championships have wrapped up and Gold Coast clubs are back in full swing preparing for a fiery round 7 of the 2024 GCDRU season.

Get to know the greatest outside backs of first grade, and hear from Colleges head coach Shaun Cole why his Knights are back on track for round 7.

South Queensland Championships - open mens 2024, Gold Coast v Sunshine Coast. Picture: Kane Mcmillan

Round 7: Preview

The Knights suffered their first loss of the season in round 5 to a charging Nerang Bulls side on home soil.

The 20-point defeat kicked them into gear, and the following week, they’d gotten back on the winners list with a 50-10 win over the Bond Pirates.

“We had a great win against Bond which was timely as we really clicked into gear with our attack.

“Nerang beat us fair and square and we took a lot away from that game so morale is still high and we just focus on the next game,” Cole said.

“Another chance against Nerang will come.”

That chance is scheduled for round 13 (June 13).

For now, Cole turns his attention to what’s in front of him following a big weekend coaching the men's Gold Coast Cyclones during the bye round.

“We had 10 guys playing across the (Cyclones) Colts & Opens, so they had a big weekend,” he said.

“But we also had a few injured guys enjoy the week off and that will bring them another step closer to returning to play.”

While their upcoming opposition boasts just one win, Cole said he cannot take them lightly.

GCDRU seniors round 6 - 1st grade Bond Pirates v Colleges Knights.Max Dempsey.11 May 2024 Miami Picture by Richard Gosling

“They’ll certainly bring some intensity and some toughness.

“They have a great man coaching them in Mika Tufuga and some great leaders in the playing group like AJ Campbell.”

He was open about his expectations being high this week, citing last week’s bye and the impending home ground advantage.

“The boys love playing at home so with any luck we can get three good wins on Saturday across the grades and then enjoy a bit of team bonding in the evening.”

Knights’ casualty ward:

Jason Beeton - Ankle, 2 weeks

Cam Dodd - Finger 4, weeks

Lesi Tawake - Knee 1, week

Blake Griffin - Ankle 2, weeks

Kerrod Martorella - Annual Leave, 2 weeks

What else is on?
Nerang Bulls v Helensvale - Navar Herbert Cup

Surfers Paradise v Gold Coast Eagles

Bond Pirates v PBC Alleygators

READ MORE ABOUT : How Gold Coast Cyclones walked away from South Queensland Championships victorious

Note: At the time of publication, all clubs were contacted for nominations

Coaches nominate: Best outside back

Josh Bukowski

Helensvale Hogs

Left wing

Now entering his second year at the Hogs, Bukowski has transitioned from playing league. He’s an exciting, strong and very quick prospect at the club.

Kyle Turei

Nerang Bulls

Fullback

KT is starting to make the 15 jersey his own. Winning three premierships while playing with his father and GOAT of GC footy Cameron Turei, he is keen to go one better and bring home a first grade premiership with Nerang. With a step like Benji Marshall, speed like Jimmy the Jet and a rig like Sam Thaiday, anything can happen for Turei this season.

Elliot Hassell

Nerang Bulls

Wing

In his rookie season playing rugby union, Hassell has put his hand up and has locked down the starting wing position over the past four rounds, notching up seven tries. But don’t be fooled by the size of him, he will chop whatever comes his way on defence.

GCDRU seniors round 6 - 1st grade Bond Pirates v Colleges Knights.Connor Kennedy.11 May 2024 Miami Picture by Richard Gosling

Connor Kennedy

Griffith Uni Colleges Knights

Fullback/Wing

Kennedy is a stellar talent around the field. He boasts great positional play and a fantastic kicking game, but is also very good defensively with his tackling. Not many get past CK.

Keone Herbert and Bailey Bocock

Surfers Paradise Dolphins

Fullback and wing

The pair are both formidable players. Herbert is gifted in the sense he can don various positions while Bocock boasts a strong running game week in-week out. The duo played for Cyclones in last weekend’s South Queensland Championships.