Confraternity 2025 Report Card: Aquinas College Ashmore

Aquinas College returned from Confraternity disappointed that its return to Division I ended without a win but buoyed by the competitive spirit shown in relentless defensive application.

Titans School League Grand Final at Jackman Oval Boys Open Challenge Aquinas College v Tweed River HS(green). Aquinas fullback Brayden Hasic beats the Tweed defence. Picture Glenn Hampson

Aquinas College returned from Confraternity disappointed that its comeback to Division I ended without a win but buoyed by the competitive spirit shown.

Confraternity’s top end is jam-packed with NRL-signed talent and Aquinas learned a tough lesson in how broad the jump from Division II to the big leagues was.

A younger team gained valuable experience against elite opposition and returned to win the Titans Schools League Open Challenge back home on the Coast on Monday.

”We probably went in with a little higher hopes than where we finished but we acknowledge we had just stepped back into Division I with a younger squad as well,” coach Matthew Beaton said.

“We had some pleasing trial results but we also got hit with a few injuries. We only had 20 fit guys to take away after losing a starting backrower to a broken hand midway through the term.

“Of the 20 boys we took away only 16 were available to play in Week 9 and 10, so some only got passed fit to play Confraternity without much Titans Cup leading in. That made it a bit tough too, but the boys did play really well.”

A particular highlight was matching it with reigning Confraternity champion Ignatius Park College to trail 8-4 at the halftime break.

Facing off with bigger forward packs at every turn, Beaton said he was proud of his team’s defensive grit and courage to keep competing.

GRADES

Attack: C

When Aquinas had the ball they showed enough to prove their promotion to Division I was for a good reason. The team’s downfall was it couldn’t hold the ball long enough, completing fewer than 10 sets per game across the carnival. No team would be able to generate matchwinning inroads with that little possession, especially with energy sapped by defending on the other end for the majority of the carnival. If graded on effort alone Aquinas would have rated much higher.

Defence: A-

With a mountain of possession against them Aquinas players can hold their heads high in defence. An eight-point defeat to Marist College Ashgrove and the aforementioned gritty first half against Iggy Park was Aquinas defence at its relentless best, pinned against their own line for multiple sets in a row.

Overall: B-

RESULTS

16th overall, last in Division I

15th/16th playoff: 20-4 loss to St Patrick’s College, Shorncliffe

Positional playoff: 30-14 loss to St Peter Claver College, Riverview

Quarter-Final: 36-12 loss to Marymount College, Burleigh Waters

Pool 1A Rd 3: 44-0 loss to St Brendan’s College, Yeppoon

Pool 1A Rd 2: 30-4 loss to Ignatius Park College, Townsville

Pool 1A Rd 1: 18-10 loss to Marist College, Ashgrove

Tryscorers: Code Eade (2), Adam Docherty (2), Ben Coulter, Stjepan Rehlicki, Cormac Greene, Brayden Hasic, Oscar Lockrey

Leading pointscorer: Cody Eade (14)

STANDOUT PERFORMERS

FLYNN MOORE

The AFL/rugby league dual coder was selected in Confraternity’s prestigious merit team in the backrow for his hearty performances for the team. His off-the-ball work in pushing up to support teammates was as valuable as his full-bodied tackles. Moore looked like he belonged on the rugby league field, despite being an A-Grade level Aussie rules senior player. The big kicking boot definitely helped his side out of trouble.

CODY EADE

Aquinas’ five-eighth was a critical member of the team until his early injury on Thursday during the loss to St Peter Claver. He impressed coaches and teammates alike by returning to play through that pain in the second half. His attacking and defence was strong throughout the week.

HARLEY PETERSEN

The halfback stepped up well throughout the week to complement Eade.

ADAM DOCHERTY

Docherty played some really good footy out on the backrow. Soldiered on, ran hard and tackled hard with some really positive footy.

FINN TURNER

A player who has improved out of sight from his humble origins with the team in Year 10.