Hidden gems: Colts 1 club rugby’s 24 quiet achievers named
Who were the quiet achievers moving mountains for their side in Colts 1 club rugby? 24 top guns highlighted here ahead of round 16.
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The Colts 1 club rugby competition will return with no time to waste on Saturday as teams chase a top four-finish after refreshing their focus while the Lions were in town.
Brothers host Easts, Wests play GPS at Yoku Road, University play away against Souths and Sunnybank welcome Bond University in round 16.
To win the Colts 1 premiership, it takes so much more than x-factor players, star power and courage.
It requires quiet achievers, some of whom are highlighted here as the race toward finals intensifies with just three regular-season rounds remaining.
COLTS 1 CLUB RUGBY’S QUIET ACHIEVERS
Hamish Ward (Wests)
The Wests scrum has been one of the best in the competition and loosehead prop Hamish Ward has been a key figure from round 1 up until now, round 16.
He just does his job and does it very well.
The Churchie old boy has grown with the experience of last year’s campaign that culminated in Wests making the grand final.
A powerful bloke who can also play hooker, Ward has benefited from exposure in second grade as well.
Charlie Bird (Wests)
Charlie Bird’s preferred positions would be flyhalf, inside centre and fullback.
Ironically, the flexible Cairns product has thrived at outside centre, which says plenty about his versatility.
It shows just how good he is because at No. 13 he has been able to influence games for Wests with his kicking, quick hands and organisation, at times like an extra playmaker.
Extremely competitive with a high rugby IQ, Bird treats every game like his last and turns sharp preparation into performance.
“As a coach, he’s just one of those guys you want around,” coach Phil Mooney said in praise.
Ryan Shaw (Wests)
Shaw, at inside centre, has been in a fantastic vein of form as of late and will be looking to maintain that entering the final two games of Wests’ home-and-away season.
He is like a fullback, flyhalf and centre meshed into one and has looked a class act recently. Like a player who has faith in his abilities.
Indeed Shaw has plenty of ability and his crisp spiral passing across both sides of the body has seen blokes like Bird, Nick Dunstan and DJ Colaivalu become more involved.
James Prole (GPS)
All the times Prole took it upon himself to head to Yoku Road and perfect his passing craft during the off-season has paid off.
The fruits of his labour have yielded great results, with his box-kicking some of the best this competition has seen.
A quiet achiever, Prole was so good against Norths in round 15 it prompted Eagles scrumhalf Robbie Hopkins to approach GPS coach Matt Mafi and ask, in astonishment, ‘Who’s that halfback of yours?’
Jonah Allen (GPS)
The rangy GPS fullback is actually an undercover backrower.
Allen, during his time at Toowoomba Grammar, even played in the second row.
He has been brilliant at the back for the Gallopers with his long strides and longer levers creating a combination for success.
A surprise packet who GPS couldn’t have envisioned as their No. 15 prior to the season, the lanky Allen has been an offloading ace who has scored six tries in 13 games and created a handful too.
Reuben Downes (GPS)
It hasn’t been the season GPS set out for but one positive they can take away is a next-gen hooker in Reuben Downes.
The club were lucky to have Downes after 2024 hooker Ewald Kruger moved to the nation’s capital for a gallop with the Brumbies.
Downes has stepped in and stepped up.
Exceeding any and all expectations, Downes has thrown the ball arrow-straight into the lineout and the No. 2 jersey will be his to lose when the 2026 season rolls around.
Francis Pepe (Sunnybank)
The Mabel Park SHS schoolboy has played every game and not looked out of place one bit.
A Sunnybank junior who played flyhalf all his life, Pepe was manufactured into a scrumhalf prior to the season and his hard work has seen him become one of the first selected each week.
Reliable and gritty, Pepe was the club’s Colts 3 flyhalf last year as a Year 11 student and has cemented himself as the first-choice halfback moving forward after an impressive season going blow-for-blow with the competition’s best in his position.
Emmanuel Mara (Sunnybank)
The big-bodied Fijian has resembled anything but a lock this season.
He wears jersey No. 5 but runs in the midfield like a Harry Wilson. He has been Sunnybank’s go-to guy when metres need making.
Very mobile considering his imposing stature, Mara has been used more as a running option than a lineout jumper and it has given Sunnybank thrust around the park.
“He’s been awesome,” said coach Rex Tapuai.
“Just how much he has grown over the last 12 months has been pretty impressive.”
This time last year Mara was a hidden gem in Colts 2.
Kiyan Gunewardene (Sunnybank)
They don’t get much more hidden than winger Gunewardene.
Last year he couldn’t get a look in for a First XV debut at Gregory Terrace but has bounced back to be one of the Sunnybank’s most reliable customers.
Consistently doing the basic stuff well, Gunewardene works hard off the ball and has the skill and speed to finish tries in attack.
A Dragons junior, Gunewardene was unknown to coach Tapuai last year but now is on the radar of Reds Academy coach Dale Roberson, who is trying to find the next batch of under-19s talent to take on the Super Rugby competition this Spring.
Tom Nadenic (Easts)
The friendly giant looks like a player capable of notching up 100 first grade games at the club.
Smart on and off the field, Nadenic gives the vibe he is only just getting started and is going to age like fine wine.
A Chippy apprentice, Nadenic swaps steelcaps for metal-studded boots at Tigerland and does a fine job around the lineout.
Caden Griffiths (Easts)
Griffiths is worth his weight in gold at Easts.
A plug and play type who started on the wing before moving into halfback, Griffiths adds essential depth and versatility across a long competition that spans over five months.
He can fill various positions and he’s the type of flexible footballer who every club would take in a heartbeat.
Caleb Godfrey (Easts)
Godfrey has been tucked away in Colts 2 for a good portion of the season before adding much-needed spark as a supersub.
When he comes on, he kills it.
Fast for a second rower, Godfrey gives his all and his high work rate doesn’t take away from his accuracy in lineout and set-piece duties.
In round 14, Godfrey’s whiz-bang cameo off the bench helped Easts pip University 36-35.
The following week, he added the finishing touches to heave the Tigers towards a 25-14 win over Souths.
Oliver Aleman (Norths)
Norths may have missed a finals berth but they did manage to unearth a prop who is going to serve them well in years to come.
His name is Oliver Aleman and after playing in the Nudgee College Second XV last year, the lightweight prop put his best foot forward and was dependable.
A game scrummager, Aleman is only 98 kgs which is considered light for a prop. He has held his own against any and all front-row opposition.
Importantly, the consistent Aleman was good for the full 70 minutes and was busy on both sides of the ball during that time.
Jack Corby (Norths)
Corby’s first year at this level has been a resounding success.
The good news for Norths is he has two more to go.
A young quiet achiever from Padua College, Corby is mobile with good instincts and execution at the lineout.
His upsize is considerable. Just might need a few more steaks here and there to beef-up his frame.
Sam Condon (Brothers)
Condon was good with his words during his time at St Patrick’s College and he spoke the truth to coach Josh Neilsen earlier this year when he was originally picked in Colts 3.
The fearless inside centre kept telling Neilsen “I’m going to get to you” and before long, Condon had played his way into a starting spot in the midfield.
First chosen as a Mr Fix It but now a regular fixture, Condon grabbed his jersey and hasn’t let it go.
Brothers are a better team when he plays.
Oliver Clarke (Brothers)
Clarke earnt his start via Colts 2, which was where he played all of last season.
He has been heavily involved as Brothers’ openside flanker this year, doing his job well without making mistakes.
Always active and around the ball, Clarke has been encouraged not to be polite because that’s his nature off the field.
He has been in everything.
Harrison Angel (Brothers)
Angel took a little longer that expected to fire in Colts 1 but he has arrived and is here to stay.
A class act at Brisbane Boys’ College, Angel has found consistency and confidence in his game, especially in the second round, to assist in Brothers’ gradual improvement.
A natural, Angel has been exhaustive with his pick-and-drive play and also done his very best to reel in Liam Robinson’s lineout throws and deliver it on a platter to scrumhalves Joe Post, Zach Lewis and Will Graham.
Mitch Waldon (University)
Those that remember Wallaby workhorse David Giffin would see a bit of him in Waldon, University’s lock.
Likely a long-term blindside flanker, Waldon has been a Mr consistent since making his return from an AC (shoulder) injury earlier this season.
Quiet and unassuming but ultra-important, Waldon has a bit of class to his game and is an all-or-nothing performer who his teammates love playing alongside.
Originally from Ingham, a small town north of Townsville, Waldon has worked his way up from Colts 2 to be an integral part of what University do, alongside fellow second rower Raife McKenzie.
Mitch Moss (University)
Are we talking about the fastest player in the competition?
Mitch Moss would have to be close.
Deceptively strong given his wiry build, Moss has been quietly determined on the wing and finishes tries with precision and speed.
A hidden gem out of Centenary State High School, Moss possesses the balance and swerving ability reminiscent of a young Brendan Moon or Joe Roff.
He is the son of a gun. Moss’ father John was an outstanding premier-grade halfback from GPS.
Rhys Chadburn (Souths)
The Downlands College product has found a home in the second row, although he looks more like a long-term blindside flanker.
Chadburn actually entered the season a flanker and coach Matt Bennetts had to find a way to get him in.
He has the effort of two forwards meshed into one and the reward has been a starting role all season long.
His hard work and dogged nature around the lineout and in close-quarter confrontations has been hard to miss.
Jimmy Jackson (Souths)
The Sunshine Coast scrumhalf has been a top notch mid-season pick-up for Souths.
Jackson, having moved from University, has even spent time in premier grade where he has gone well and shown he is not out of place.
In Colts 1, the polished No. 9 has been classy against Bond Uni, Wests and Easts in recent weeks.
All this from a Mr Natural who reached out to Souths coach Bennetts asking for a chance. He got it, and hasn’t looked back.
Kenny Harris (Bond University)
Harris was a late inclusion in the starting team after strong performances saw him force his way into a starting spot via Colts 2.
The hard working forward hasn’t let up since making his starting debut against GPS in round 8, Harris leading from the front with his energy and effort.
The 192cm lock-forward has a V8 engine and his form has seen lock Fergus Gillan shifted into a blindside flanker position, where he has thrived.
Kenny is the son of former Melbourne Rebels defensive coach and Fijian Drua assistant coach Brad Harris and has impressed coach Rico Gear with his tireless attitude.
“Lots of forwards are always walking but he’s always on the move,” Gear said.
“He goes down injured every game, but gets back up again and keeps going.
“A kid like him is pretty hard to find. He’s got a big heart.
“He’s exceptional.”
Ryan Wildman (Bond University)
There’s not much of him but Wildman has been ticking boxes left and right with his dependability in behind as Bond’s first-choice fullback.
Possessing a high rugby IQ and wide skill set, the smart Palm Beach Currumbin Alleygators junior has morphed into the Bond backline and been a brilliant link.
He has the core skills and instincts to help Bond sustain its success late in the season.
Rogan Huntley (Bond University)
The Gold Coast local has delivered the goods in the absence of representative tighthead Jonah Rangiwai.
Huntley’s improvement has been something to behold over the past 12 months. He has jumped from Colts 2 to 1 and prospered with far greater match fitness and dynamism in his game.
Powerful in the scrum and busy elsewhere across the park, Huntley gets his job done with no fuss and is never too far from the breakdown or a runaway teammate.
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