Gold Coast Eagles Team of the Decade selections revealed

The best players to pull on the colours of the Gold Coast Eagles this decade have been honoured by Gold Coast Bulletin rugby reporter Nic Darveniza.

A little over 10 years ago, the Gold Coast’s oldest rugby club didn’t have a senior side.

The rebirth of the Gold Coast Eagles, from the ashes of a once-proud club to rising again as the decade’s top team, has been a journey fit for a Hollywood movie.

The Eagles had been a juniors-only club for five years when former All Black Tabai Matson set to work recruiting players and building a culture to sustain a senior rugby program again.

The playing corps he assembled went on to claim the first grade title in their first year back.

It was no fluke, with the Eagles appearing in the next six consecutive grand finals, winning four, including a three-peat between 2013 and 2015.

Gold Coast Eagles No.8 of the decade, Ross Love.

“Tabai had set the base for what would be the key gelling point of the club to be such a formidable force,” inaugural recruit Jason North said.

“We had to adapt and adopt a lot of what New Zealand rugby was doing at the time.

“It was missing from Australian rugby clubs, but if you were to start a rugby club what would your ideals be?

“It was togetherness, respect, how everyone treats everyone and building strong relationships with each other out of that.”

That early-decade dominance over the rest of the GCDRU in first grade has translated fluently into the Eagles’ team of the decade selections.

Gold Coast Eagles Team of the Decade

Gold Coast Eagles prop Hayden Makiri. Pic by Richard Gosling

1. HAYDEN MAKIRI

Makiri was smaller in stature than most of the opposition props he came up against but consistently punched above his weight with technical scrummaging.

2. PAUL MARSHALL

Marshall was at the heart of the Gold Coast’s smallest front row that went on to win four from six Premierships between 2010-16. Marshall was an energiser bunny of a hooker who always found an extra 10 per cent when his teammates needed it.

3. CAMERON RIDLER

Ridler’s strength as a tighthead was unyielding. While a traditional tighthead prop might tip the scales at 120 kilograms or more, Ridler’s ripped physique proved the scales don’t count more than talent.

Gold Coast Eagles lock Royce Loamanu. Picture: JERAD WILLIAMS

4. ROYCE LOAMANU

The long-serving first grade captain commanded the respect of his peers, which helped him manage the discipline of a fiery forward pack like a field general. Loamanu wasn’t the type to rack up stats but was always in the heart of the action.

5. MARK TEREPAI

Terepai joined the club from the Gold Coast Breakers and brought that same hard-nosed physicality from Queensland Premier Rugby to the Eagles. Terepai nearly single-handedly kept the Band-Aid company afloat because he’d always leave the field covered in scratches and scrapes.

6. GEORGE LOVE

One half of the famous Love backrow tandem. George was the fitter of the two brothers but brought a boxers mentality to the playing field. Love knew precisely where the line lay and toed it constantly, but importantly never crossed it.

Gold Coast Eagles No.7 of the Decade, Chad Bradfield. Picture: Jerad Williams

7. CHAD BRADFIELD

Bradfield was a prototypical openside flanker, closer to Michael Hooper than David Pocock. The young openside’s engine was limitless, which is why he is the only player on this list never to raise the first grade trophy.

8. ROSS LOVE

When opposition teams lined up to play the Eagles, spotting the Love brothers side-by-side meant you knew you were in for a rough time. Ross was the team’s muscle and supplied the mongrel that kept his Eagles’ sides in the fight against bigger, stronger teams.

9. RYAN JONES

Jones’ first grade opponents could have warned Sophie Monk the halfback had some fire in him long before he arrived on the set of the Bachelorette in 2017. The Kiwi-born playmaker was a chameleon on the pitch, able to transition between setting up others and taking opportunities himself at the drop of a hat.

Gold Coast Eagles No.10 of the Decade, Jesse Westerlund. Picture: JERAD WILLIAMS

10. JESSE WESTERLUND

Westerlund earned the nickname of the smiling assassin over a celebrated seven-year tenure with the Eagles. Westerlund was approached by future Crusaders assistant Tabai Matson to relaunch the Eagles senior club in 2009, and for good reason. Westerlund’s work ethic on and off the field inspired a generation of teammates.

11. JACOB HELIBROHN

The Frenchman’s electrifying speed was only one reason a dedicated fan club showed up watch him play every weekend. It certainly wasn’t for the creativity behind his ‘Frenchie’ nickname.

12. JOE FA’ALOGO

Fa’alogo was a celebrated player-coach for the Eagles throughout the decade, embodying the club’s mantra of respect with high level play. Fa’alogo was a physical centre who never stopped trying to master the technical side of the game.

Gold Coast Eagles No.13 of the Decade, Drew Lawrie.

13. DREW LAWRIE

When asked by the Bulletin to conjure up some pro comparisons for their former captain, their responses were Conrad Smith, Stephen Larkham and Elton Flatley. Lawrie’s cerebral approach to breaking down defences were a valued part of a well-rounded arsenal.

14. ANDY KIRK

Perhaps the only player faster than Frenchy Helibrohn this decade. Kirk’s penchant for chip-and-chase kicks could have infuriated coaches if he didn’t always win the race to reclaim them. Teammates said Kirk could outwit any opponent in the open field.

15. ANDY HOLLISS

A booming 70m drop punt and a clutch goalkicker from anywhere inside the opposition half made Andy Holliss a valuable fullback to have on your team and a deadly adversary. The multiple-premiership winning back three combination were never beaten for speed.