GPS First football’s round 2 players of the week named ahead of IGS-Nudgee blockbuster bout

GPS First XI football’s best round 2 performers include a terrific trio from BBC, a Year 9 top gun from Terrace, a spark plug from IGS and Churchie’s magic man Quinn MacNicol. More here.

The GPS First XI football competition is in full swing after two enthralling rounds.

The GPS First XI football competition will reach a flashpoint on Saturday when Ipswich Grammar host traditional heavyweights Nudgee College in an early season blockbuster.

They are two teams bound to be in the premiership picture come season’s end and in round 3 they will face off to see who lays early claims on the elusive title.

In round 1 Nudgee won 2-1 over dark horses Brisbane State High and Ipswich Grammar 2-0 over Gregory Terrace. While Nudgee sat out with a bye in round 2, the young guns from State High scored a 2-all draw against Ipswich Grammar which emphasises the closeness of this year’s competition.

Across town, Brisbane Boys’ College claimed their second successive win to reach their two-win total from the 2023 season and surpass their one-win 2022 season. In 2024 BBC went winless, so they are off to a flying start in the infancy of the 2025 competition.

“The boys ripped in and were excellent defensively,” said BBC head coach Jamie Morgan.

Morgan is making reference to a spirited defensive display in the final quarter of Saturday’s match against Gregory Terrace where they were without key player Tanner Wheeler who was sent off. BBC ended up winning 2-1 and will play a BSHS full of confidence in round 3.

Churchie, after falling 2-1 against The Southport School in the opening round, returned to the winner’s column by way of a 5-0 win of Brisbane Grammar.

TSS won 2-0 over Toowoomba Grammar to remain unbeaten.

Churchie celebrate during round 2.

LADDER AFTER TWO ROUNDS

1. BBC (two wins)

2. TSS (two wins)

3. IGS (one win, one draw)

4. Churchie (one win, one loss)

5. Nudgee College (one win from one game)

6. BSHS (one draw, one loss)

7. Gregory Terrace (two losses)

8. TGS (two losses)

9. BGS (one loss from one game)

GPS FIRST XI FOOTBALL’S PLAYERS OF THE ROUND

Quinn MacNicol (Churchie)

Quinn MacNicol was impressive in round 2.

MacNicol had a stunning reintroduction after missing round 1.

The Brisbane Roar rookie starred with a clinical goal and two more assists to inspire his side to a 5-0 win over Brisbane Grammar.

The game was much tighter than the scoreline indicates.

Zane North and RJ Bhangra (Churchie)

Churchie's Zane North.

Zane North was a rock at the back and R.J Bhangra a menacing presence in Churchie’s fast-finishing effort which saw them score our goals in a stunning 15 minute second-half blitz.

North was up to his usual tricks while Bhanga brought his best to give the Brisbane Grammar boys all sorts of problems with his marauding runs down the left.

Four clinical finishes by Arden Hogan, Loucke Oelofsen, Aiden Courtney and Juno Lee-Kang turned a 1-0 arm wrestle into a 5-0 bounce-back win for Churchie late in Saturday’s match.

Trey King (Brisbane State High)

Ipswich Grammar led 2-0 and the match finished with a 2-all draw. Brisbane State High Trey King was crucial.

He had an excellent game, scoring the equalising goal and giving his teammates confidence with his play under pressure.

Oscar Levey (Brisbane State High)

Levey followed suit of his inspiring skipper when he came on to replace Cam McLoed between the posts. He quickly channelled his best work.

Levey made a handful of saves to remain in tact with Ipswich Grammar and snare a draw.

He was in his element when the stakes were at their highest — late in the match when the visitors threatened to pull away.

Kajesh Sharma (Ipswich Grammar)

Coming on earlier than he would have expected, Sharma made supporters stand up and take note with his instant impact off the bench.

Sharma’s pressurising, paired with his ability to win the ball high up the park, created plenty of opportunities for the Ipswich Grammar forwards.

Riley Wallis (Ipswich Grammar)

Returning back to the place where he made his First XI debut in 2022 at Fursden Road, Wallis worked relentlessly on the left side of the field.

The three-year young veteran of First XI footy bagged himself a fantastic goal in the process.

Indeed the Ipswich Grammar forward made a fitting return to where it all started.

Daniel Fenwick (Toowoomba Grammar)

Fenwick was at the peak of his powers on Saturday in a much-improved showing by Toowoomba Grammar.

The boys from up the range stuck it to TSS before the visitors pulled away with two goals in the second half and much of their challenge was built on Fenwick’s tireless work in the midfield.

Hunter Hotko (The Southport School)

Hunter Hotko. The Southport School vs Toowoomba Grammar School in round 2 of the 2025 GPS football competition, 3rd May 2025 at TGS. Photo: Adrian Gaglione

Hunter, ‘Double H’ Hotko had himself a cracker in round 2.

A midfield magician from Northern New South Wales, Hotko assisted on TSS’s first goal scored by Rex Oliver and then showed his class drilling a goal about 10 minutes later.

The ball fell to Hotko at the edge of the box and the bottom left corner is where it finished.

He was key in turning a nil-all deadlock into a telling 2-0 advantage midway through the second stanza, asking plenty of questions against a resilient Toowoomba Grammar outfit.

Zak Lawrence (The Southport School)

Zak Lawrence. The Southport School vs Toowoomba Grammar School in round 2 of the 2025 GPS football competition, 3rd May 2025 at TGS. Photo: Adrian Gaglione

The Gold Coast United top gun continued his rapid improvement over the past 12 months with a performance built on hard work.

A big improver for TSS, midfielder Lawrence took care of everything Toowoomba were throwing at him. He could not be flustered and remained a hard working customer throughout the 80 minutes.

Darcy Satharasinghe (BBC)

Brisbane Boys' College footballer D'Arcy Satharasinghe.

Has been on a tear.

The sporting all-rounder from BBC continued to enhance his reputation as the competition’s elite goal sneak by scoring two more goals.

After a double in round 1, Satharasinghe put in a stunning performance again with a cracking goal and clinical penalty.

Dan Simjnoski (BBC)

Every team needs a good centre back and Siminoski stepped up to the plate last weekend to be that guy for BBC.

In arguably his best First XI game, Simjnoski marshalled his troops magnificently in defence and when it was all said in done, his hoarse voice typified his unrelenting efforts.

Matt Larkham (BBC)

Playing left back, Larkham ran his socks off.

One third of a terrific trio that upped the ante for BBC, Larkham brought boundless energy in defence which helped restrict the Terrace attackers.

Lucas Strbac (Gregory Terrace)

Young Year 9 student Lucas Strbac made his debut and looked more than comfortable in midfield.

Talk about making an impression.

The baby of the team was right at home and contributed to Terrace controlling large parts of the game.

Charbel Kairouz was quality in the midfield alongside Strbac.

Originally published as GPS First football’s round 2 players of the week named ahead of IGS-Nudgee blockbuster bout