Coombabah SHS’ 2020 rugby league season report card

Coombabah suffered just one loss all year long but it was in the key match, their Langer Cup qualifier against St Mary’s, where they fell short. Coombabah rallied to win every game for the remainder of the season

Coombabah SHS

Ladder: 1ST (Gee Cup)

Wins: Woodridge SHS (16-10), St Peter Claver (70-6), Forest Lake SHS (16-12; 30-12), Redcliffe SHS (18-6), Mabel Park SHS (34-6; 50-12)

Loss(es): St Mary’s College (36-18)

Rating: B+

Coombabah suffered just one loss all year long but it was in the key match, their Langer Cup qualifier against St Mary’s, where they fell short.

Coombabah rallied to win every game for the remainder of the season and could have troubled Langer Cup cellar-dwellers Marsden and St Mary’s if they had their chance.

Highlight:

Coach Rod Pryor said the highlight of the season was in watching the improvement in his playing group from start to finish, culminating a convincing 50-12 Grand Final win over Mabel Park.

“The boys grew together and learned that there’s no I in team,” Pryor said.

“They had to work together in the gym and on field.

“We came together in patches but by the finals they gelled.

“Having each others’ backs was one of their strengths.”

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Lowlight:

The pain of missing out on Langer Cup qualification was considerable for Coombabah because by seasons’ end they had proved without a doubt they were capable of playing on that stage.

A young Coombabah side were below their best against Woodridge SHS but held on to win by six points despite making a ton of errors.

In all, coach Pryor said the season was a positive one.

Backbone:

Goalkicking lock Jordan Lewis went from strength-to-strength after shifting in to that position from his favoured spot on the right edge.

His consistency won over his coach, who said the hulking forward found his groove to become the team’s backbone in midfield.

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Most improved player:

Front-rowers Joseph Shannon at prop and Sean Howlett at hooker developed nicely throughout the season.

Their work ethic in particular impressed, putting in time in the gym and practice to hone their athletic gifts into valuable contributions on the field.

Shannon’s second-efforts were testament to the work he has done with his fitness.

Who returns in 2021?

All three of Coombabah’s starting front-rowers will return in 2021 with Jarrod Johnson joining Shannon and Howlett.

Coombabah State High’s Joseph Shannon and Timothy Sielaff-Burns. Photo by Richard Gosling.

Zach Johnson, Kobie Mackey-Taylor and Caleb Gould-Waiariki will join them, as will backline contributors Timothy Sielaff-Burns at fullback and centre Dre Goldsmith.

Coach Pryor said it was a solid squad across the park and promised exciting things if they could knuckle down over this off-season.