Colts 1 club rugby’s round 10 team of the week; 30 key players so far
Colts 1 club rugby’s latest scoop: 30 key players from all nine clubs named here, along with the round 10 team of the week.
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Souths Magpies swooped onto Biggs Field at Sunnybank on Saturday, circling their foe early before overpowering them 32-7 in round 10 of Colts 1 club rugby on Saturday.
Easts won 23-22 against Norths in a frantic finish, University dealt with GPS 43-12 and Bond Uni muscled up against Wests to win 19-7.
At Sunnybank, Souths had all bases covered during its rollicking local derby victory, displaying more authority upfront behind a fabulous display of tactical kicking by flyhalf Finn Mackay.
Mackay’s kicking and the elite performance of flanker Trent Picot, Huw Griffiths, Charlie Yeomans and co contribute to a cocktail which was just too good for the home side.
This was despite the efforts of Dragons flanker Tane Gregory who was brave to the core.
After both team’s exchanged pick and drive tries, Souths inside centre Viliame Lacudru broke the deadlock with a surging try from 20m out.
That try, and another pick and drive score by breakaway Picot — as runs by Lacudru and Joel Broderick softened the Dragons up — put Souths ahead further.
While Sunnybank tried hard, Souths edged out their rivals in the forward contests, and it was no surprise to see more pressure build into a try for hooker Max Munnery after a text book rolling maul attack from line out ball.
Munnery’s try put Souths in the clear ahead of a test against GPS this Saturday on Chipsy Wood Oval.
Wests will host Easts in a heavyweight bout on the westside while Norths play away at University and Sunnybank get another crack at redemption on home turf against Brothers.
Ahead of round 11, see who has been spearheading their respective sides with key players of the competition named below.
COLTS 1 ROUND 10 TEAM OF THE WEEK
15. Rocco Gollings (Bond Uni)
14. Sam Dickie (Norths)
13. Charlie Bird (Wests)
12. Kye Porter (Uni)
11. Mitch Moss (Uni)
10. Sam McGahan (Easts)
9. James Prole (GPS)
8. Heinrich Fourie (Bond Uni)
7. Trent Picot (Souths)
6. Fergus Gillan (Bond Uni)
5. Charlie Yeomans (Souths)
4. Mattias Agent (Sunnybank)
3. Dante Febo (Easts)
2. Cooper Hoare (Easts)
1. Kingbenjamin Swirling (Uni)
Reserves: Riley Canavan (GPS), Tane Gregory (Sunnybank), Finn Mackay (Souths), Callum Simpson (Bond University), Huw Griffiths (Souths), Mattias Agent (Sunnybank), Jackson Jury (Bond University), Will Pascoe (Wests), Will Nason (Wests), Samson Chow (GPS), Harry Gould (GPS), Harry Solofa (Wests), Tafito Ah-Ki (University), Caleb Godfrey (Easts), Tom and Joe Stoddart (Easts), Henry Zietsch (Easts), Ben Kluck (Norths), Joey Gray (Easts), Max Campbell (Easts), Cale Maurice (Norths), Angus Kelly (University), Raife McKenzie (University).
KEY PLAYERS SO FAR THIS SEASON
Kye Porter (University)
The University inside centre has played all nine games and not one bad one.
Consistent and courageous, Porter is like the bedrock that bolsters the Red Heavies defensive line.
His ability to read the game on both sides of the ball has been a strong feature, along with his toughness and intelligence on when to run, kick and pass.
Jack Henry (University)
Henry was key in University’s 27-17 win against Brothers in round 8. In a 14-5 round 9 loss against Sunnybank, he was absent due to suspension.
Henry’s 34-12 winning return against GPS was a roaring success for a fine forward-utility whose “value and leadership is hard to quantify,” according to coach Nick Turnbull.
The former Canterbury College school captain is a glue player with considerable skill for a big man.
Raife McKenzie (Univresity)
A mainstay at lock this season.
McKenzie has played every minute of every game and gives his all every Saturday from 12.15pm until just shy of 2pm when the final whistle blows.
The physical McKenzie is the type of bloke you want beside you in battle.
Jamie Alexander (Wests)
Alexander’s importance within the Wests Colts 1 outfit cannot be understated.
A halfback-flyhalf utility who kicks goals at a great clip and whose quick taps are too quick for the referee, Alexander is like a captain the way he leads with his actions.
His up-tempo, skilful and fearless play is contagious and his “strength is his consistency,” according to coach Phil Mooney.
Mooney is a lucky man having Alexander, a former Queensland under-17 cricket representative, setting a high standard for the Bulldogs.
Will Pascoe (Wests)
Pascoe arrived in Brisbane from Townsville as a raw-boned 15-year old earlier this decade. He has taken his game up a level each year since, progressing through Brisbane Grammar and now Wests where it’s hard to believe he is only just this month turning 19.
Constantly on the improve, Pascoe looks to be adding little elements to his game here and there to become better in all aspects of his craft as a big-bodied lock.
Alex Watkins (Wests)
Watkins has been a staple in the flanks for Wests over the past two seasons and he has been leading with strong performance after strong performance.
A powerful runner with the ability to play all three backrow positions, Watkins’ sound showings have been a result of good preparation.
“He’s got a great feel for the game,” said coach Mooney.
Hamish Ward (Wests)
The Wests pack has a nice blend of Churchie products packing down the scrum with 2023 hooker Hamish Ward and 2024 hooker Harry Solofa extremely impressive through 10 rounds.
Loosehead prop Ward, nicknamed ‘hammer’, still has the ability to throw lineout ball and has been developing his physical game well since leaving school.
Visibly bigger and stronger than this time last year, Ward has gone from a fringe starter in 2024 to one of the first picked each week in 2025.
Sam McGahan (Easts)
McGahan has placed himself in Queensland Reds Under-19s selection conversations after being one of the competition’s best tactical kickers - a close second to Souths supremo Finn Mackay.
Both are frontrunners for that Reds squad announced later this year, with McGahan’s X-ray vision for a 50-22 and territorial kicks giving Easts a platform to win games.
While his brother Joe has been trying his hand as a centre in the Brisbane Rugby League Under-21s competition, Sam has been steadily improving his running game to compliment an already effective right boot.
Larry Clark (Easts)
The Tigers captain is no flash dan but his presence is awfully important for the third-placed boys from Bottomley Park.
A calm and composed type who rarely makes mistakes, Clark has been an integral backline member at outside centre where he can fill multiple roles depending on game circumstances.
Clark, a great role-plugger, is better suited to flyhalf or inside centre but the skipper has stood tall and done a tremendous job in the No. 13 jersey to play his part in the Easts game plan.
Tom Lambo (Easts)
Behind No. 10 McGahan and captain Clark, 18-year-old raw talent Tom Lambo has been gaining valuable experience in the strongest rugby competition he has played in.
A young chap from Western Australia, Lambo has been rock-solid with his defence, kick returns and goal kicking.
When he finds the right balance in attack, Lambo could well become the competition’s elite fullback.
Cale Maurice (Norths)
The flyhalf-inside centre utility has copped plenty of traffic down his midfield corridor this season and defended bravely.
A smaller body but fearless, Maurice’s defence and general understanding of how to stick to a game plan under pressure has been grand in a rocks-and-diamonds campaign for Norths.
Jake Peirce (Norths)
A rugby league prop, Peirce has converted himself into a rugby loosehead and now a second rower.
Ironically, the Rockhampton forward who attended St Brendan’s College plays like a backrower with his ability to pierce a gap or tackle all day long.
Tom Williams (GPS)
Tom Williams has been as reliable as a rock is hard with his flanker play.
He rarely makes mistakes, runs in support of his men and can find an offload. In a constantly changing GPS pack, Williams’ availability and dependable output has remained the same.
Tom Hansson (GPS)
Hansson’s return to rugby from rugby league has been welcomed with open arms at GPS.
He has been one of the team’s top forwards with his mobility across the park a feature of his play.
Hansson is a rare breed because he can play lock, flanker and No. 8 and he has switched between these positions with distinction this year using his physicality and work rate to boost the Gallopers’ chances.
Harry Gould (GPS)
Gould is like the gel holding the GPS pack together. He is strong as an ox and has experience against high-class opposition.
The powerful tighthead played two years of First XV rugby for Ashgrove and is in his third season of Colts 1 rugby where his scrummaging and pick-and-drive play is dependable like the night sky.
He is one of the competition’s top front rowers and his selection in the Queensland Reds Under-19s wider squad late last year shows that.
Sam Howarth (Bond University)
Bond University’s set piece is top notch and it also helps that the captain, scrumhalf Sam Howarth, is a New Zealand boy just like coach and former All Black Rico Gear.
Howarth has led with words and with snappy service, excelling in his core role as a game manager.
The scrumhalf goalkicker has also put his team in the right parts of the field with the help of flyhalf Callum Simpson and as a result of executing the game plan, the Bull Sharks are one point behind first-placed Uni (35pts).
Charles McCauley (Bond University)
McCauley’s taste of first grade has served him well because when he returns to Colts 1, he always delivers the goods.
A second-row brute, McCauley adds the finishing touches to Bond’s pack when he plays, making them that extra bit better with his big body, leadership and go-forward ballrunning.
He captained the side to the semi-finals last year.
Fergus Gillan (Bond University)
It should come as no surprise seeing Gillan’s name in this company.
The lock-flanker utility has been a man on a mission in 2025, enhancing his reputation further after he was named Queensland’s best in the 2024 Super Rugby Under-19 series.
In a gruelling clash against Wests last weekend, he scored two of four tries scored by either team and has been a rock at lineout time.
Trent Picot (Souths)
Picot has led the charge at the breakdown for Souths to be one of the competition’s best on-ball flankers.
The Brisbane State High old boy deserved the right to that title in last year’s GPS First XV competition and has lost nothing in comparison to his rivals in the under-20s space.
Only 18, Picot has been safe like the Bank of England carrying into tough spaces and multiple defenders yet rarely taking a backward step.
Joel Broderick (Souths)
The Magpies skipper has been a staple of consistency. Especially over the last few rounds, No. 8 Broderick has regularly motored past the gain line and intervened when it matters with momentum-halting hits.
Souths’ impressive start to the season is a great reward for captain Broderick who earnt his start the hard way by being an elite forward in Colts 2 last year.
Finn Mackay and Darcy Rowan (Souths)
Souths were dark horses for this year’s premiership and a big reason why is the quality of flyhalf Finn Mackay and centre Darcy Rowan.
Both have come out of the St Laurence’s College stable and both have a touch of class which has helped the Magpies tame the Dragons, Brothers and Tigers in the last month.
It is clear to see Mackay is at the peak of his powers at flyhalf, although he was used as a fullback in first grade earlier this season.
Rowan has also benefited from experience. The midfielder has gotten better with time and is now in his final year of Colts.
Zach Lewis (Brothers)
The Brothers skipper has been excellent after a long lay off due to injury.
Lewis, who has played scrumhalf, flyhalf and fullback, was sidelined for about 18 months after doing almost everything in his knee back in 2023.
Behind the scenes, the dedicated Lewis worked hard to fight his way back and his grit and determination was rewarded with captaincy honours this season at Crosby Park.
Even when others may have thought Lewis would not return to rugby, he was plotting a grand return when the time was right.
That time is now.
Charlie Johnstone (Brothers)
Johnstone has been another success story at The Butchery.
Late last month the high-IQ flyhalf was called up to first grade the day of, about five hours from kick off.
Not to worry — Johnstone doesn’t need much time to think about his game. He is a natural who came away with player of the match honours in that Hospital Cup starting debut.
“I’ve never been so excited to lose a player on game day,” smiled Colts 1 coach Josh Neilsen.
In Colts 1 footy, Johnstone has been consistently good.
Liam Robinson (Brothers)
Few have been more consistent than hooker Liam Robinson.
One of the youngest in the competition (he was born in 2007), Robinson regularly plays the full 70 minutes and has the engine to remain competitive late in games.
Prior to Brothers’ round 10 bye, Robinson’s accurate throwing was paving the way for a functioning lineout.
DJ Manase (Sunnybank)
Manase has started every game at inside centre and his consistent play has been a big positive for an inconsistent Sunnybank side trying to find its rhythm across a long season.
Manase’s quick feet, leg drive and clean passing means he is both a running threat and a capable playmaker for his dangerous outside men Junior Sitia Malupo (No. 13), Kiyan Gunewardene and Jeriah Vagana (both wingers).
Mattias Agent (Sunnybank)
Agent could hang up the boots now and he would still have a position in this masthead’s 2025 Colts 1 team of the season.
He has been that good.
Playing as a lock, flanker or No. 8, the top-gun forward has gone about his business stealthily and teams would have to be getting sick of it.
Against Wests he was a late-game wonder and against Uni, in another giant-killing win, he was everywhere.
Emmanuel Mara (Sunnybank)
The big man has had a stellar season so far.
To jog your memory, think of the towering, big-bodied lock who wears headgear and runs hard in the midfield.
Mara’s presence has been felt on both sides of the ball and his uncompromising style is always apparent.
More than once this season he has hurt himself, carried pain with him and gone on with the job.
Has no fear of self preservation.
Originally published as Colts 1 club rugby’s round 10 team of the week; 30 key players so far
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