GPS First XV rugby: Broncos boy wonder’s stunning round 1 debut in a gala opening salvo to the season
GPS First XV rugby Team of the Week: After a dramatic opening which saw a draw, a stunning TGS win and a hattrick hero, we reveal the Best of the Best from round 1.
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The season started with a capital B for Bang, with storylines evident across all four matches during the return of GPS First XV rugby.
Toowoomba Grammar’s potential, Churchie’s surge to draw with TSS, Tyson Walker’s blazing second half for IGS and Nudgee College’s thrilling try scoring ability was evident in round 1.
So which players were the best of the best?
One of the first players chosen in the Team of the Week was Nudgee College Year 10 winger Barry Taukolo, a three try hero on debut against Brisbane State High.
The Auckland prodigies’ best try came in the second half when he finished a golden team movement by mimicking a loose forward and inserting himself in the thick of the action at a breakdown.
Taukolo then scooped up possession and with explosive acceleration and power, burst 10m to the line to score despite plenty of traffic around him.
Originally in the Warriors junior system, the North Island ace was wooed by the Broncos and moved across the Tasman last year.
Earlier this season he made this publication’s Connell Cup U17 club rugby league Team of the Season after a strong season playing fullback for Wynnum Manly.
Competition for the No.8 spot was hotly contested with plenty of players putting their best foot forward for their school.
Gregory Terrace’s Oliver Nasser was brave in defeat, Toowoomba Grammar’s Rhymen Tusi and Brisbane Boys’ College’s Gray O’Neill were elite in general play and kicking off the tee.
Churchie’s Sam Williams was monumental at home while his opposite Elijah Galloway gave his all in a dashing debut performance. At Tennyson, Ipswich Grammar’s Tannar Baker was also brilliant.
TEAM OF THE WEEK
1. Kingsley Uys (TSS)
To put it simply, Uys was more than good enough to be the starting prop in this team and yet he was still a good 20 per cent off his best.
That is scary.
He was a wrecking ball on Churchie’s Main Oval, tossing aside would be defenders at will and steam rolling his side forward with brute force and determination.
For the supporters in attendance that were unaware of Uys’ representative past, it would’ve taken them a total of 10 minutes to realise there was a top prospect in their midst.
2. Charlie Hollyman (Gregory Terrace)
Hollyman also had his way in Tennyson.
At hooker, Hollyman headed a dominant Gregory Terrace scrum that will take confidence into round 2 after they dealt with Ipswich Grammar with distinction.
Hollyman, a three-year First XV front-rower, was all over it.
3. Harrison Asi (BBC)
The smirking prop from BBC was grand at scrum time too and threw his body in front of runners to stop them in their tracks.
He was active in close quarter confrontations and his fellow front rowers Luke Nilsson and Jeremiah Kite were also wholehearted performers who didn’t deserve to lose.
Two yellow cards on difference occasions really hurt the brave BBC boys, and you just had to admire the heart, grit and passion of Asi and his debut duo Kite and Nilsson.
4. Rupeni Baravilala (TGS)
Baravilala got the job done and he played his part to perfection in Toowoomba Grammar’s spirited win on Old Boys’ Oval.
He brought down Ruben Kruger’s arrow-straight throws, dented the line in attack and scored the final try which was a reward for his effective 70-minute performance.
It’s worth noting this was Baravilala’s official return to rugby after he successfully rehabilitated an MCL injury sustained late last year.
5. Tavita Loughland (BBC)
Super Rugby club’s should be circling this mobile second rower.
A quick replay of Saturday’s match would be enough to see the stunning potential, raw talent and class of this polished lock from the Gold Coast.
He was a stifling lineout jumper who delivered it on a platter to halfback Harry Munro and twice stole TGS ball. In attack, Loughland chewed off extra metres every time he ran.
Looks set for a grand campaign if round 1 is any indication.
6. Ben Di Donna (Nudgee)
In an even, highly-skilled performance by the entire Nudgee pack, blindside flanker Di Donna can feel well pleased with his efforts.
His work in the line out, support of teammates carrying the ball and unselfish vibe — such as his decoy run in the Oliver Patterson try — contributed to a terrific team performance that was even more impressive than the 46-22 scoreline implies.
7. Keegan Cook (TGS)
Cook had a down-payment on this No.7 jersey after the first five minutes of Saturday’s sensational game between TGS and BBC.
The fearless flanker was often the first there, rushing through to make big contact off kick restarts.
It immediately put pressure on BBC to exit from deep within their half and in turn, TGS enjoyed the glut of possession on the day.
Cook’s courage and toughness was best seen when BBC lock Jack Randall caught him high with a thumping tackle. Cook rose to his feet in a flash and less than two minutes later his side had scored, through Cook of course.
8. Gray O’Neill (BBC)
The likes of Williams (Churchie), Nasser (Gregory Terrace), Baker (IGS), Tusi (TGS) and Galloway (TSS) all had claims here but O’Neill’s work rate and precision in a losing side just had to be shown the utmost respect.
O’Neill, BBC’s goalkicking forward, scored a try, saved a certain try when Adam Davis kicked infield for multiple teammates steaming through and defended like a man possessed.
He really is the full package and showed that against amped-up opposition in a game that demanded his defence, scrummaging, cover tackling and support running were all on song.
9. Alfie Bowman (Churchie)
The service of Alfie Bowman was simply brilliant and Churchie flyhalf Fletcher Austin would’ve been one of the first to thank him after the arm-wrestle against TSS went down to the wire.
Austin himself was top notch, with his kick returns often threatening the TSS defenders.
Bowman, clearly benefiting from last year’s Super Rugby Under-16s campaign with Queensland, put it on a dime and turned TSS around with his deep box kicking to corners.
10. Tyson Walker (IGS)
Walker was the firing pin in his team’s 34-point second half blitz of Gregory Terrace.
He gave Brock Coombes a channel to the tryline with an inside pass, put his winger Rakuita away to score with a long pass and attacked the blindside to give his No.8 Tanner Baker the chance to rampage 40m to the line.
Then, when we all thought it was said and done, Walker produced a sizzling 50m chip and chase try.
It was a positive sign for IGS, seeing Walker handle business in measured fashion throughout the first hour before trying his hand with a chip kick within his own half when the war had been won.
11. Barry Taukolo (Nudgee)
The Year 10 student delivered in spades on debut, scoring three tries and making several other surging runs to emphasise his trademark busyness as a winger.
He gave Nudgee College counterattacking potency, could finish with aplomb and was not afraid to engage in contact.
Excitement was building in Boondall around the Kiwi kid but few would’ve expected he’d take off within the first 30 minutes of the season.
12. Kilarney Lavender (TSS)
The TSS squad would’ve walked away from Churchie reminiscing on the little things that could’ve got them over the line. At least they know one thing is for certain.
Kilarney Lavender is going to be a strike weapon again in 2025.
A dominant No.13 last year, Lavender instilled confidence in his peers whenever he took the line on because often the result was a tackle bust, offload, or, in the case of Dylan Terblanche’s 55th minute try, both.
13. Adam Davis (TGS)
Davis dug his heels in and had a big assignment coming up against a top notch BBC backline.
He was responsible for pulling off some essential tackles and in attack he had his hand in two tries.
Davis displayed the perfect mix of toughness, speed and finesse at outside centre.
14. Oliver Patterson (Nudgee)
Patterson relished the opportunities afforded to him by a Nudgee College backline that looked like it had played together for years.
His positional play maximised Nudgee’s chances of capitalising on counter attack ball when fullback Noah Fien was fielding kicks, and his pace and evasive skills ensured he was a constant danger.
He scored twice.
15. James Smith (TSS)
Smith’s introduction to First XV rugby was a resounding success.
He was dependable at fullback and for a Year 10 student in his debut, against high-class rivals away from home, that warrants praise.
The gutsy Canberra product made all the right decisions under pressure and, on a day where TSS were their own worst enemies, Smith’s touches almost always left TSS in a better place than before.
SUPER SUBS
Mostyn Bowen (Ipswich Grammar)
The Newcastle nuisance bit down hard on his mouthguard and went to work in effective fashion on Saturday.
The big-bodied lock took 17 carries and had 12 ruck involvements in an impactful, hardworking showcase that saw him pick up where he left off after the club rugby league season earlier this year for Ipswich.
Sam Williams (Churchie)
Williams gave the impression he only had one game left in Churchie’s blue and grey strip.
He was a man possessed around the ball, in defence and at the breakdown.
His effort, energy and deceptive speed was to the fore and after being brought down 20m short of the tryline midway through the second half, after bursting 30m down field, the tone-setting No.8 rightfully scored the decisive 73rd minute try that gave Churchie the chance to win.
Rhymen Tusi (Toowoomba Grammar)
Tusi took the game on and came up trumps to ensure Toowoomba Grammar’s premiership charge got off to a flyer.
It is the school’s 150th year and No.8 Tusi channelled plenty of pride in the jersey with his blockbusting runs from everywhere on the field.
Rather than scrumming, he could at times be seen lining up his prey in the midfield.
He nailed four of six shots at goal and was at his best in the first 10 minutes which kicked TGS into gear quickly and showed BBC they meant business.
Oliver Nasser (Terrace)
As a unit, the effort of Gregory Terrace’s forward pack was stellar. It was a positive performance which was not reflected in the 34-point loss to Ipswich Grammar.
Leading the charge was skipper Nasser whose toughness on both sides of the ball would have been a source of inspiration to teammates.
There could be even better days ahead for Nasser given the room for improvement of a pack brimming with potential.
Tannar Baker (IGS)
Baker just looked like an imposing, seasoned, second year First XV player — which he is, of course.
The No.8’s rampaging 40m solo try iced an influential performance where his ball carrying was brilliant and defence dogged in helping nullify the forwards’ challenge from Terrace.
Brock Coombes (IGS)
Ipswich Grammar’s midfield of Coombes and Finn Kendall, alongside potent wing and fullback options of Rakuita, Leo Briggs and Marlon Frost, give IGS premiership-contending strike power this season.
Inside centre Coombes was perhaps the best of all of them last weekend, with his charges in contact and ability to position himself into half gaps a grand feature.
His pass to put Kendall on a beeline to the stripe wasn’t bad either.
Jack Brown (TGS)
It was a similar case to the No.8 positional battle with most of the competition’s halfbacks having a great outing to begin the season.
Brown just had to be lauded for his snappy service, direction of his forwards and great support running.
Few were more amped up and energetic than the blonde-haired Brown. None were more excited for teammates when they scored than Brown.
That’s why it was so fitting the roving halfback had the magic moment of the game when he scored Toowoomba Grammar’s third try (53rd) which retook a 22-19 lead that was never surrendered.
Hemi Rakuita (IGS)
Rakuita was mightily impressive on the left wing as the Ipswich Grammar backline division swept into action after halftime against Gregory Terrace.
He was strong in contact and finished movements with pace and power.
The more ball he sees this season, the better it will be for IGS.
Myles Rosemond (TGS)
Rosemond was well contained within the first half but in reality, he can’t be kept on ice for the whole 70 minutes.
The fancy feet of Rosemond was most valuable creating overlaps and freeing up his outside men.
It worked a treat when left wing Petelo Maka scooted down the touch line and scored in the corner. It also helped give No.13 Davis just enough room to get away a kick that was scooped up and scored emphatically by halfback Brown.
SPECIAL MENTIONS: Billy Spicer (Nudgee), Viliami Fifita (TSS), Lachie Crain (TSS), Elijah Galloway (TSS), Duke Thallon (Churhie), Cyrus Suniula (BSHS), Jack Garnier (IGS), Luke Thornton (BSHS), Robert Piutau (BSHS), Jesse Maugatai (BSHS), Harry Bate (Nudgee), Cooper Murray (BBC), Bailen Noy (Churchie), Angus Underwood (Churchie), Toby Kennedy (BBC), Archie Ilott (Gregory Terrace) and Trey Pritchard (Churchie).
Round 2
BGS v Churchie
IGS v BSHS
TSS v TGS
BBC v Terrace
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Originally published as GPS First XV rugby: Broncos boy wonder’s stunning round 1 debut in a gala opening salvo to the season
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