Colts 1 club rugby: Who were the best new faces so far this season?
Club rugby special: Meeting the best new faces of the Colts 1 competition. FULL LIST
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Two young guns from across the Tasman are just some of the best new faces glimpsed so far in this year’s Colts 1 club rugby competition.
Bond University Bullsharks’ utility back Trey Alatini and Sam Howarth, a pesky scrumhalf, were adding a pinch of x-factor and class to Rico Gear’s Coast side this year who head into round eight with a win behind them after a thrilling two-point success over Easts last weekend.
Lefty Alatini landed at the Canal after playing First XV schoolboy rugby for King’s College in New Zealand’s North Island as a flyhalf.
Playing fullback under coach Gear, Alatini’s classy ball playing and pass first nature has shone through, while the core skills of halfback Howarth, as well as his goal kicking, has been a highlight for the Bullsharks.
Trey is the son of former All Blacks midfielder Pita, who made 17 appearances, including at the 1999 World Cup alongside Jonah Lomu and Co.
Alatini and Howarth, a former First XV schoolboy No. 9 from Westlake Boys High School in the North Island, have formed a strong Kiwi connection in Bond’s backline, which also features slick moving centre Blake Raymond.
Bond University’s No. 8 Nick Hilton, was also a welcomed reinforcement for Gear having just recently joined the side after five rounds.
The former TSS schoolboy, who played First XV in 2020, 2021 and 2022, had returned to rugby after finding plenty of success with the Tweed Seagulls in the Meninga Cup.
The Nerang Roosters junior and former Coombabah SHS student is back bringing physicality and a dynamic running game at the back of Bond’s scrum.
So who were the other exciting new faces making an impact in Colts 1 club rugby this season? Read on.
COLTS 1 BEST NEW FACES
Trey Alatini (Bond University)
From King's College in New Zealand’s South Island, flyhalf or fullback Alatini came across to test himself in the Colts 1 competition as an 18-year-old.
The left footed sleek mover is a player of considerable potential, a pass first run second bloke who can put his mates through a hole, relieve pressure with his kicks and score his own try with sharp footwork.
Sam Howarth (Bond University)
Howarth downed the Tigers last weekend with a superb sideline conversion.
But he was more than just a goal kicker, he was a scheming scrumhalf with a wonderful box kick and pass.
Nick Hilton (Bond University)
Big Hilton made News Corp’s GPS rugby Team of the Decade named last year, and was a Titans signed schoolboy at TSS where he was a premier loose forward for three seasons.
A strong second half of the season could see Hilton push his case for Reds Under-19s selection for the National Championships.
Jeremiah Sialau (Brothers)
Brothers’ front row stocks were in great health with Rory Beech, Jeremiah and Jermaine Sialau, Ayrton Holmes, Benjamin Pula-Fatu and Jasper Asi all gunning it for starting spots.
A hooker, Sialau is just a very good rugby player with powerful scrumming ability and smarts.
Josh Takai (Brothers)
The Brisbane State High schoolboy whiz has taken to Colts 1 well and we suspect he will get better and better the more he plays. An outside centre, Takai’s right to left step is destructive and he knows when to go himself or feed his pacy wingers Kai Combarngo, Emmanuel Taviri, James Duggan and Seth To’o who are renowned finishers.
Maddox Maclean (Souths)
Capable fly half or inside centre Maclean has given other team’s hard times this season, with his run, kick, pass package a handful for opposition defenders.
At full strength, the Magpies backline shapes as one of the competition’s most deadly.
Cooper Hoare (Souths)
Souths’ powerfully built hooker has been destructive across the paddock, joining fellow BBC newcomer Slater Galloway in a strong Magpies front row.
With Thomas O’Callaghan and Cadell Rees holding the lantern, Hoare and Galloway have been excellent in their first season.
Darcy Rowan (Souths)
There are plenty of new faces at Chipsy Wood Oval and Rowan was one of them, after last year nailing the premiership winning conversion for the club in its Colts 2 grand final against Wests.
Now in the Colts 1 side as a playmaker, headgear wearing Rowan was showing his class with and without ball in hand.
Isaac McAuliffe (University)
Gregory Terrace old boy McAuliffe has been the head of the snake for finals hopefuls University.
His booming kicking game has been a point of difference from flyhalf.
Chace Oates (University)
A smokey to make his Hospital Cup debut this weekend for the Red Heavies, young Oates was a hard running Toowoomba boy making waves at the University club.
The cousin of Broncos winger Corey and brother of elite first grade winger Kye, Chace has taken his game up a level this season as an inside centre where his running game has been a highlight.
Tom Robinson (University)
The Students have been hit with the injury bug, with Patrick Sowerby headlining their injury ward.
But they were capable of anything with forward leader Robinson, a lock, flanker or No. 8, leading from the front.
He has untapped potential.
Finlay King (Wests)
There is strong competition within his household for who is the better rugby player with older brother Campbell a classy inside centre.
But young Finlay, Wests’ front row battleship, was making a difference in the rolling maul this season.
Alex Watkins (Wests)
A Nudgee Seconds player last year, breakaway Watkins has been a forward terror in Colts 1 and off the bench for first grade when given the chance.
James Alexander (Wests)
Wests junior Alexander returned to his boyhood club after a high achieving school career down the road at BBC.
Quick between the ears, halfback Alexander has a knack for scoring and Super Rugby written all over him.
Jude Knapp (GPS)
Knapp’s good form in Colts 2 early in the season saw him promptly elevated into a consistent starting role at fullback for GPS, where he has not stepped a foot wrong. From a famous local rugby family, Knapp has tremendous cover defence and a high rugby IQ.
Chris Jansen (GPS)
From small west coast village Melkbosstr in the Western Cape of South Africa, hard hitting centre Jansen has made his presence felt on the defensive end under new coach Kris Kuridrani.
Still just 17 years old, Jansen joined Jeeps after moving into the neighbouring suburb of The Gap after being Wanneroo Rugby Club’s (Perth) Colts Player of the Year in 2023.
Watch this space.
George Griffiths (GPS)
GPS are a completely new side this season following two underwhelming campaigns following the club’s 2021 premiership.
Coach Kris Kuridrani and his coaches have a mix of new faces, with Toowoomba Grammar rugby captain (2023) George Griffiths flying the flag for the Gallopers.
The forward utility has led with his actions and words, and has been a tremendous lineout target that works hard around the field.
Mattias Agent and Oscar Lane (Sunnybank)
Brisbane State High boys Agent and Lane have hit the ground running at the ‘Bank, with their work ethic leading the way for the side.
All around the park they make an impact, it is not hard to see.
Genesis Luli (Sunnybank)
Who has spotted the headgear wearing No.8 from Sunnybank that pops up here, there and everywhere?
That is 18-year-old Sunnybank junior Genesis Luli, a Brisbane State High old boy of Samoan and Maori heritage.
The good form of powerful backrower Luli is gathering ominous pace following a breakout season in BSHS’s First XV last year.
Jakeb Horne (Easts)
The thickly set powerhouse hooker has been an absolute monster for the Tigers to begin the season.
His throws have been straight, defensive line speed top notch and work in and around the breakdown phenomenal.
Easts are a different team with him on the field, alongside hardworking props Byron Murphy and Drew Smith.
Noah Rauluni (Easts)
After a handful of near misses to start the season, the Easts boys have been given a big boost with Nudgee old boy Rauluni joining the squad.
A freakish athlete, if Rauluni keeps playing the way he has in a short period of time it’s hard to imagine he misses out on Queensland Reds Under-19s squad selection.
Frankie Goldsbrough (Easts)
Another gun rookie at Tigerland, midfielder Goldsbrough is being groomed for first grade honours under coach Simon Craig.
The tall, athletic outside centre played Australian Under-20s rugby last month.
PJ Su’a (Easts)
Out of the sporting rich Logan City and rugby stronghold Gregory Terrace, barnstorming No. 8 PJ Su’a has hit the ground running in club land as one of the premier ballrunners in the under-20s competition.
He has been consistently good in all seven games.
Ryan Heaton (Norths)
Big improvers Norths have benefited off the footwork, passing and running game of Nudgee old boy Heaton.
With two more seasons left of Colts 1 rugby, the club’s under-20s will be in safe hands through the middle of the field.
Macarius Pereira (Norths)
Front row beast Pereira has fit in a whole seasons work into just under half a season.
Partly because he is that good and partly because he wants to do his junior club proud before continuing his rugby development in France in a few short weeks.
Originally published as Colts 1 club rugby: Who were the best new faces so far this season?
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