Helensvale Hogs Team of the Decade selections revealed

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

Don’t let the Bureau of Meteorology tell you otherwise – those loud cracks you thought were thunder and lightning this week is just the Helensvale Hogs’ premiership party starting to wind down.

The Hogs’ celebrations after winning their first title from 33 attempts were made all the sweeter after enduring a steady stream of semi-final knockouts throughout the 2010s.

The core of Helensvale’s drought-breakers had been there every step of the way.

Members of the Helensvale Hogs Team of the Decade side for 2010-2019. (L-R: Dillon McIvor, Cory Vela, Joe Hepi, Jack Finigan, Josh James, Tazzy Jones, Steven Finigan, Willie Todd, Sean Finigan, Scott Stokes, Hayden McCaa) Picture: Supplied

“It was awesome for the club to tick that box this year,” president Karl Wernham said.

“For the boys who’ve played a lot of games, to retire on a grand final win is a great reward.

“Our two props in Joe (Hepi) and Magic (Jade Brunsdon), to have those two play 100 games in a league where props are a dime a dozen is fantastic.

“Captain Fantastic (Hayden McCaa) is a warrior and a great leader, and losing him in the grand final was definitely the turning point for our boys who went to another level seeing their captain go down.

“It’s a sign of how valued he was to the team and the club.”

A Premiership win lays foundations for future success and the beginning of a culture of excellence that Hogs players and officials tip will ring out long into the decade to come.

GOLD COAST RUGBY TEAMS OF THE DECADE

● COOMERA CRUSHERS

● NERANG BULLS

● COLLEGES KNIGHTS

● YATALA RAMS

● NEXT: 8am Monday on goldcoastbulletin.com.au/sport/

Helensvale Hogs Team of the Decade

Helensvale Hogs prop Joe Hepi. Picture Mike Batterham

1. JOE HEPI

The 100-gamer is moving to New Zealand soon but he’ll depart a Helensvale Hogs legend. A breakdown and set-piece expert who’ll be greatly missed at the club.

2. FRANKIE KAWANA

The hero of a Helensvale Hogs cinderella story. After starting out in social footy with third grade, Kawana rose through the ranks to make his mark in first grade. Teammates rate him as an inspirational figure.

3. JADE BRUNSDON

A mirror image of Joe Hepi, but with significantly flashier footwork. The nickname Magic was earned many times over.

Sean Finigan of Helensvale Hogs Rugby Union team during a photo shoot at the club oval, Helensvale, Gold Coast. Photo: Regi Varghese

4. MATT TODD

A taller, Australian version his Crusader namesake. Todd started in second grade and earned the call-up to play four years of First Grade.

5. JOSH JAMES

He’s no political selection but James has served the club faithfully on an off the field, as president, vice president and on the committee. He’ll continue on into the next decade with second grade.

6. SEAN FINIGAN

The middle child of the Hogs’ famous Finigan family but Sean has played the most games for the club. He’ll hit 100 caps midway through 2020

Steve Finigan of Helensvale Hogs Rugby Union team during a photo shoot at the club oval, Helensvale, Gold Coast. Photo: Regi Varghese

7. TAZZY JONES

A Hogs junior who found his way back to the club after stints in Canberra and at the Gold Coast Breakers. A hard worker, solid ball-carrier and excellent at the breakdown.

8. STEVEN FINIGAN

The eldest Finigan is the biggest of the lot. The No.8 throws his weight around the pitch and is known for his calling call of a pounding fend. Whispers around the club suggest he’s truly the best of the brothers.

9. SCOTT STOKES

The Freckle had the rare honour of becoming the first Hog to raise the first grade trophy after skipper Hayden McCaa was knocked out of the final in 2019. Stokes is a classical scrumhalf; possessing above-average passing and below-average banter.

Action pics of the Round 7 Gold Coast District Rugby Union match between Helensvale Hogs and Gold Coast Eagles at the Hogs rugby club on Rugby Lane. Helensvale scrumhalf Scott Stokes. Photo by Richard Gosling

10. JYE THOMAS

The first grade field general is a classy, technical flyhalf who facilitates and organises well. Thomas puts the ball into the right areas to give his teammates the best chance of winning.

11. DILLON MCIVOR

The son of former first grade coach Joe McIvor made the Gold Coast honour board last year and earned that right. He’s overcome injuries to approach 50 caps.

12. WILLIE TODD

Todd played his 50 game for the club in the Grand Final victory but will step down to coach second grade alongside team of the decade lock Josh James in 2020.

Jack Finigan of Helensvale Hogs Rugby Union team during a photo shoot at the club oval, Helensvale, Gold Coast. Photo: Regi Varghese

13. JACK FINIGAN

The youngest of the Finingan brothers. The best looking? You be the judge, but well-placed sources say the centre would probably agree. Finigan returned from a stint in semi-professional rugby in Portugal in career-best form.

14. CORY VELA

Vela has taken a few years off with a dodgy shoulder but did enough in earlier years to cement his place in this side. The nippy sidestepping of Vela was a feature of successful Hogs teams of the past.

15. HAYDEN MCCAA

The inspirational Hogs captain slips between defenders and is safe under the high ball. The founder of the Hogs’ history project tracking each player’s number of games for the club. He’ll leave a legacy long after his time on the field passes.

Hayden McCaa (Helensvale Hogs). Picture Glenn Hampson