Gold Coast and District Rugby Union: Gold Coast Eagles flyer out to keep try-scoring streak alive

An Eagles winger is out to continue a brilliant record, while the brother of a Bond star has cemented his international future. FULL GCDRU ROUND 7 ANALYSIS HERE >>

Perhaps the most frustrating part of the Gold Coast Eagles disrupted season for coach Scott Hyde has been being deprived of the chance to see just how far a “lightning” winger can stretch his try-scoring streak.

Last week’s wild weather has forced the region’s rugby union competition fixtures to be called off, meaning the Eagles will still have played just one game since their win over Bond on April 9.

Because of the club’s bye week, Easter break and Cyclones representative trials, cohesion has been hard to come by for the 1-3 outfit. However one constant has been Brad Gordon’s ability to cross the white line.

In his first year with the Eagles, the flyer has scored in every game for his new side, with each coming from either an intercept or loose ball.

And Hyde said there was no luck involved with these efforts. They came from an innate ability to read the play and sense when his time had come to strike.

The Gold Coast Eagles are set to at last return to the field this week.

“He seems to have an eye for an intercept, he’s got a real knack for that and he puts himself in the right position at the right time,” he said.

“As we say, if you back yourself and follow through we’ll back you with what you do. He’s backing himself to go for that intercept and he’s getting them each game.

“He’s lightning quick too and obviously speed is a massive thing if you’ve got that hidden talent. He’s letting the guys know that he’s pretty well up on the try scorers charts.”

The Eagles were set to take on the high flying Nerang Bulls last Saturday prior to the rain calling off the round, but are now finally set to return to the field against Griffith Uni Colleges Knights.

While Hyde said it had been a challenge keeping his side up for a contest without any sort of continuity on the field, ultimately that was not an excuse he or the club were buying into.

Given their next clash will be against the defending champions, he said they could not afford to wallow on what has been.

“It’s quite disappointing, we would’ve had one game in six weeks for our A-grade. One thing is we’re pretty much injury free which is nice, probably the fact we haven’t been playing many games is the cause of that,” Hyde said.

“Certainty match fitness is a different aspect to training fitness, but it’s not a big reason for anything in particular.

“We’re not going to use that as an excuse. We’re training well and doing what we can to keep the boys fit.”

SURFERS PARADISE VS NERANG: CONTENDERS TO BATTLE

Two genuine contenders for the Gold Coast title will go head to head in what is set to be the game of the round.

Surfers Paradise went within a whisker of taking down the defending champions in Griffith, losing by a penalty goal right at the death.

Nerang, however, were emphatic against the Knights, charging to a 25-0 triumph in a sensational claim to their premiership credentials.

Bulls hooker Liam Cordell will be coming into the contest on the back of a hat-trick against Bond, while the Dolphins put on an attacking clinic in their 57-8 win over the Eagles.

BOND BYE: PIRATE’S BROTHER REMAINS IN AUS

While the rain and now a bye has ensured Gold Coast rugby pundits have had to wait until Bond take the field again, Pirates star Ethan Lolesio’s family will have plenty of reasons to celebrate.

Former The Southport School star Noah Lolesio re-signed with Rugby Australia until the end of 2024 last week, keeping him in Brumbies colours and moving towards next year’s World Cup. The fly-half already has nine Wallabies caps to his name.

Bond Pirates gun Ethan Lolesio. Picture Mike Batterham

“I’m really grateful to be able to re-sign with Rugby Australia and the Brumbies,” Lolesio said in a statement.

“Achieving some of my goals, like representing the Wallabies, has been a dream come true, but I’ve still got a lot of things I want to achieve in both a Brumbies and a Wallabies jersey.

“Being part of a great group at the Brumbies with guys I’ve been playing with for a long time is something I value highly.

”Off the back of training well, and putting in good performances, getting the opportunity to be a part of the Wallabies set up is amazing, so I’m just stoked to be staying.”