One reason why each Gold Coast District Rugby Union club should be pumped up

We’re seeing the most compelling Gold Coast District Rugby Union first grade season in years and here is a reason for fans of each club to be excited as crunch time approaches.

WE’RE seeing the most compelling Gold Coast District Rugby Union first grade season in years and here is a reason for fans of each club to be excited as crunch time approaches.

GRIFFITH UNIVERSITY COLLEGES (1st, 43 points, +291 differential)

Attack: There is probably no team feared more than the defending premiers. While the majority of games this season have been closely contested, Colleges have been responsible for most of the blowouts that have occurred.

Griffith University Colleges stalwart Kerrod Martorella in the spotlight at training at Ashmore. Picture: Glenn Hampson.

Through the first 10 rounds of the competition, they have averaged scoring 41 points a game and have only twice failed to put 30 on the board. If they keep that up, it’s going to be a big ask to keep pace with them.

SURFERS PARADISE (2nd, 37 points, +42)

Proven under pressure: The Dolphins arguably have experienced more change than any of their rivals: A switch in coaches, the mid-season departure of co-coach Marius van der Nist, massive roster turnover and a new playing style.

Surfers Paradise scrumhalf James Crisp offloads under pressure from Eagles player Shoma Okubo. Picture: Richard Gosling

They haven’t dominated scorelines but have developed a knack of doing just enough and have now beaten every team – and eight of nine games – to be the form side in the competition.

Knowing how to win will be an invaluable factor come finals time.

GCDRU’S STEP BACKWARDS ACTUALLY A MOVE FORWARDS

HELENSVALE (3rd, 32 points, +99)

Culture: The Hogs have drifted back into their usual third place behind the Knights and Dolphins, sparking doubts whether their premiership drought will go on another year.

Hogs flanker Tyron Jones. Picture: AAP Image/Richard Gosling

What might just help them is the approach and culture – which has been raved about – that new coach Taione Vea has brought. Maybe that and their relative roster continuity can help them get the job done at the pointy end of the season.

NERANG (4th, 16 points, -89)

Finals: The Bulls have come off the boil a little in recent weeks but they remain in the box seat to make the play-offs in their first season back in first grade.

Aaron Cook wins a lineout for Nerang.

At full strength, they’ve proven themselves capable of matching it with the best in the business. They’ve shown the way to rebuild a struggling club.

BOND PIRATES (5th, 10 points, -166)

Competitiveness: Lincoln Matehaere, the mentor who guided the Pirates to the 2015 decider, has done a solid job on return in bringing the club back into the mix.

Pirates player Peter Woodward looks to shrug off a Nerang defender.

The Pirates have twice beaten the Eagles to sit in fifth place and have more often than not pushed the likes of Surfers Paradise and Helensvale. They’re well placed to take another step forward in 2020.

GOLD COAST EAGLES (6th, 7 points, -177)

Belief: After a rocky start to the season, the Eagles finally got the breakthrough victory they had been craving last weekend against Nerang in a result that crucially closed their deficit to the top four.

Eagles captain Nixon Taramai has led from the front. Picture: Tertius Pickard

They had been close several times before – including a pair of three-point losses to Surfers Paradise – but now that they have got that taste of winning back, can the 2018 preliminary finalists get on a roll?

GCDRU Round 11 fixtures

Saturday

Gold Coast Eagles v Griffith University Colleges at James Overell Park, 4.10pm

Helensvale v Bond Pirates at Rugby Lane, 4.10pm

Surfers Paradise v Nerang at Albert Park, 4.10pm