SCRU: Leading A-grade coaches name key players, 2024 finals aims

The Sunshine Coast A-grade rugby union season has flown by and with just three rounds remaining until finals coaches have had their say on leading competition players and key takeaways.

Eddie Franklin

@eddiefranklin47

5 min read

July 11, 2024 - 2:59PM

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Sunshine Coast A-grade rugby union. Pictures: Patrick Woods, Facebook, Contributed.

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After 11 rounds of entertaining rugby union across the Sunshine Coast, we’ve crossed the halfway point of the 2024 senior A-grade season.

With just three rounds in the regular season remaining, teams are still battling it out for their place in the finals before the eventual grand final on August 17.

In a rollercoaster season of unpredictable results, we’ve spoken to leading coaches to gauge their side’s strengths, weaknesses, standout players and finals aims.

Read below to see how the top six sides are tracking and stay tuned for the women’s coverage next week.

MEN’S A-GRADE

UNIVERSITY

Current position: 1st (7 wins, 3 losses, 0 draws, 10 bonus points)

Head Coach: Brad Tronc

Key Players: “I think our two brothers James and Levi Wairau have been excellent for us this season along with Jacob Pinkney at tighthead prop has also been a great new addition. Albert Stoute our hooker has been solid too and then the usual suspects in Luke Kimber and Michael Cocks have led the way well this season.”

USC Barbadian A-grade captain Luke Kimber and head coach Brad Tronc. Picture: Patrick Woods.

Biggest Positive: “Our biggest key I would say is the turnover of players we’ve had compared to years in the past and for us to still be competing at the right time of the year has been great. People may look at it as a rebuild but for us to still be at the top heading into finals is a testament to what we’ve done in the past with pathways and systems for players.”

What needs improvement: “We just can’t keep the same team on the paddock for two weeks in a row which obviously affects our cohesion a lot. I’m just looking forward to getting some players back but at the same time it’s built a lot of depth within the squad and giving players some exposure when they may not have had that opportunity before.”

NOOSA

Current position: 2nd (7 wins, 3 losses, 0 draws, 10 bonus points)

Head Coach: Jim McKay

Key Players: “I’ve been really pleased with our playing group as a whole. Our reserve grade side is winning the competition, our depth across both teams has been good and the attitude of the players has been reflective of that. We tried to create an environment where the players are enjoying their time at the club and taking something away from each session or game.”

New Noosa Dolphins head coach Jim McKay. Picture: Eddie Franklin

Biggest Positive: “We never give up. Even the games we’ve lost they’ve been close defeats so we’re always in the fight. We’ve picked up a healthy amount of bonus points and are playing some nice attacking footy.”

What needs improvement: “We’ve been slowing and steadily building all year so the aim is to keep that trend going as we head into the final few regular season games.”

MAROOCHYDORE

Current position: 3rd (6 wins, 3 losses, 0 draws, 6 bonus points)

Head Coach: Simon Lewis

Key Players: “In the second row Mitch Schneider has been epic for us all year. He’d be one of our more consistent players each week which is a credit to him. I’d also say Isaac Talbot as our captain has been solid as always and Harry McMahon in the backline has produced some good performances as well.”

Maroochydore head coach Simon Lewis. Picture: Facebook.

Biggest Positive: “The cohesion that we’ve got back after what happened last season has been amazing and I can’t credit the boys enough. They had a tough period for a while there but we finished the 2023 season well and have carried that mentality into this year both on and off the field.”

What needs improvement: “Everything. Myself and the players would just be hoping for a general improvement across the ground. The competition is very tight so unless the wheels fall off completely we should make semi finals and then reassess from there. If we can stop making those little mistakes that hold us back at times it’ll go a long way.”

WYNNUM

Current position: 4th (4 wins, 5 losses, 0 draws, 10 bonus points)

Head Coach: Billy Leal

Key Players: “Coby Sinclair has been one of our best all year. He’s played everywhere in the forward pack from backrow, second row and even at prop. He’s only new this year but has been fantastic as has our two Skelton brothers Richard and Conrad. Then from our existing players I would say our number nine Tom Crowley has been solid.”

Wynnum Bugs head coaches for 2024.

Biggest Positive: “I’d say apart from the weekend just gone it’s been our ability to score tries. It was a big issue for us last year where we didn’t get a lot of four try bonus points but I think there’s only been two games this year we haven’t hit that four try mark. That ability to create opportunities and finish them off has been our biggest improvement and the main thing I’ve been happy with.”

What needs improvement: “That would just be around our defence. Our scramble defence has been great but our set piece defence hasn’t been good and our lineouts have been pretty poor so that’s a big key focus point for us to fix. We’ve also been tested a lot with injuries, especially in the last few weeks with eight guys ruled out for the year so depth has been a huge issue for us which means we have to get the younger or new players up to speed quite quickly.”

BROTHERS

Current position: 5th (4 wins, 5 losses, 0 draws, 7 bonus points)

Head Coach: Darren Tahu

Key Players: “Noah Brogden has been our most consistent player all year along with our young hooker Jack Packer. He recently made the under-18s South Queensland team so he’s done really well to step up this season.”

Sunshine Coast Brothers A-Grade head coach Darren Tahu. Picture: Patrick Woods.

Biggest Positive: “The biggest focus for us this year has been consistency in results. We’ve lost a few games on the bell, won a few on the bell so it’s just been about finding our pattern I guess for the full match each week. It’s a tough competition this year as it’s very compressed in the middle so I think it’ll come down to the last round to see who will make finals.”

What needs improvement: “To be honest, it’s a different one but dry ground. Our style of play is suited to dry conditions so we’ve been really hampered when it’s wet and that’s been the case for the majority of this season.”

CALOUNDRA

Current position: 6th (4 wins, 5 losses, 0 draws, 7 bonus points)

Head Coach: Dan Atkins

Key Players: “I don’t know who is leading the try scorers table but our prop Manu Vi has scored close to 10 tries and is our leading point scorer for the club. He’s been very good as has Logan Kingi our lock and Kaan Askew at flanker.”

Caloundra Rugby Union 2023 head coach Dan Atkins with captain Jake Helgesen. Picture: Eddie Franklin

Biggest Positive: “As a club we’ve been successful and we’ve been able to recycle a few players through first grade which has been nice. Sometimes we haven’t been getting the results but it’s always about the experience for players and making sure they get some good exposure in our top grade.”

What needs improvement: “With our next few games we’re just focused on taking each one as it comes and playing some consistent football. Our defence is something that we need to tidy up but with three games to go we just need to make sure we go through those matches with the mentality of treating each side with respect.”