Gold Coast rugby union guns Jaye Paton, Will Bird and Lepau Feau named in Queensland’s top five

He helped himself to a rare hat-trick, even at one stage “channelling his inner fullback”. However the first of the Gold Coast’s top five players in the state lauded a returning man for his side’s dominant win. FULL ROUND ANALYSIS HERE >>

He helped himself to a rare hat-trick, even at one stage “channelling his inner fullback”. However Jaye Paton lauded the return of one of Griffith Uni Colleges’ key emerging stars as the glue that inspired their most emphatic win of the Gold Coast District Rugby Union season.

The Knights could not be stopped in a commanding 60-7 triumph over Bond Pirates — a complete contrast to the one-point grind they were forced into for the campaign’s opening clash.

Where Griffith were able to welcome back a host of players from injury, Bond were still without the likes of fly-half Lepau Feau and fullback Damien Timms — two men who have largely orchestrated the Pirates’ attack.

The return of Knights fullback Callum Brown proved crucial in the defending champions near impenetrable defensive line, marshalling his troops from the back and organising an intense line that pushed Bond off their game.

Gold Coast Rugby Union match between Griffith and Bond. Match Played at Griffiths Home ground at Benowa . Pic Mike Batterham

While Paton said their were plenty of jokes shared about his own three-try effort, ultimately he did not believe the accolades would have come had it not been for Brown’s influence.

The Knights number eighth, who finished equal fifth in NewsCorps’ hunt for Queensland’s best first-grade rugby player, said he had simply been a benefactor in recent years of the quality forward pack he had injected himself into.

“He fractured his cheekbone playing against Nerang in the first round, so he’s been out for six to 10 weeks or so. He was a big loss for us, especially when he was playing 10 at the time,” Paton said.

“He was our goal kicker and just commanded our team around, with him at the back with lots of chat it was exactly what we needed — especially losing CK (regular fullback Connor Kennedy) who talks the most.

“I was a bit surprised myself (to score a hat-trick), it was a bit of laugh between everyone because I’m captain so they don’t like me scoring many.

“The first was off a pick and drive, one off a scrum and the last one was channelling my inner fullback and I ran about 20m down the sideline.

“Our forward pack has been so dominant, I’ve kind of been getting the credit for that. Without our forward pack being as good as it has been I couldn’t play the way I’ve been playing.”

Knights captain Jaye Paton. Pic Mike Batterham

Paton was one of three Gold Coast talents to feature in the top five of the state’s best grassroots rugby union player, with Feau and Nerang Bulls fullback Will Bird finishing third and fourth respectively.

Paton himself comes with a stacked GCDRU resume, complete with more than 100 Premier Rugby appearances for Bond, three premierships on the Glitter Strip as captain and the inaugural Bob Sinclair medal for player of the year dangling around his neck.

However the veteran has frequently come up against the two men who edged ahead of him in the voting stakes, and it was his Bulls rival who he reserved the highest praise.

Bird was one of only two Gold Coast players chosen to represent South Queensland in the Country Championships, a just reward for his form that has launched Nerang to the top of the table.

Paton, who has been on the receiving end of Bird’s exploits that have helped usurp Griffith as the competition heavyweight, said the tag as one of the best in the state was justified.

Will Bird fends Larry Hermens , Pic Mike Batterham

“Will Bird is one of the most exciting players I’ve ever seen that I’ve played against. He’s a really good kid and a great bloke so to finally get the recognition is deserved. He plays like his six foot tall and 100kg, he’s an absolute weapon,” he said.

“We focus a lot on stopping him, and Leps is the same – we have to set our team up a bit to stop those players.

“It’s actually been good (not being first), there’s a bit of pressure off us. We’ve had so many injures and issues behind the scenes, so to get back to playing really good footy and piecing together a good performance was a big moment for us.”

BULLS VS EAGLES: NERANG CEMENT TOP DOG STATUS

A double to Nerang winger Joshua Edmond spearheaded yet another win for the Bulls, as they downed Gold Coast Eagles 36-7.

The veteran and former club captain showcased his class and experience on the flank, with his fellow flyer Logan Watene helping himself to a try as well.

Nerang number eight Sheldon Fidow continued a fine outing for the men at the back of the scrum across the weekend, as the ladder leaders maintained their margin atop of the competition.

Bulls coach John-Henry Maniapoto has spoken glowling about Edmond’s influence in the past, with he and teammate Will Bird the only Gold Coast members of the South Queensland squad.

Gold Coast District Rugby Union (GCDRU) first grade clash between Nerang Bulls and Bond Pirates at Nerang. Josh Edmond. Pic Mike Batterham

Last week he told the Gold Coast Bulletin that they missed the former Sunnybank winger’s influence in the early exchanges of the season, as he finished his rowing commitments before returning to the field in recent weeks.

“He spent a bit of tie away rowing, so he sort of was a late starter to the season which we all knew about,” Maniapoto said.

“He’s been my captain for the last four years, but with his unavailability we just basically had to wait for him and he showed some form.

“We had some good lads taking his spot so he had to work back. Basically when we did have him as captain it was for his experience.

“He’d gone away and played in the Brisbane Premier comp as well, and for a young guy just being away from the club in a different environment I felt at the time it was good to have his experience.

“As well as being a good leader he’s an x-factor, he’s a finisher. No matter what code, rugby union or league, you always need finishers on that wing.”