GPS First XV schoolboy rugby Rd 6 Team of the Week unveiled ahead of TGS-Nudgee blockbuster

With nine tries between them, three forwards from BBC, BSHS and TGS made the round 6 GPS First XV Team of the Week. Full side here.

Andrew Dawson, Nick Tucker and Lachlan Onions

7 min read

August 20, 2024 - 2:54PM

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Cyrus Suniala is congratulated on scoring a try earlier in the season. Picture, John Gass

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Brisbane State High School lock Eli Langi, Brisbane Boys’ College hooker Lucas Bakker and Toowoomba Grammar’s Jonah Allen scored nine tries between them and were among the first chosen in the round six GPS First XV rugby Team of the Week.

HOW ROUND 6 UNFOLDED

BSHS captain and three try hero Langi was superb as his team’s unbeaten run stretched to an impressive five matches.

On Miskin Oval Bakker had three tries by the 53rd minute while Allen was Dominant with a capital D in his team’s win over Terrace.

The player of the round however was The Southport School’s outside centre Kilarney Lavender who, for the second successive week, was the first back chosen in the side.

The Year 11 wrecking ball has been on a tear this season.

The Team of the week also includes, for the second time, rising front row hybrid Cyrus Suniala, and also a deserved starting role for Brisbane Grammar School’s Elijah Breen who was classy in a gallant performance by his side against BBC.

TEAM OF THE WEEK

15. Elijah Breen (BGS)

Ball playing whiz Breen wore jersey No. 10 but he was too good not to have in this team so fullback will have to do.

Breen had his hand in all three BGS tries, kicked well in general play and so often attracted BBC defenders to create opportunities out wide.

14. Dylan Terblanche (TSS)

One of the elite Year 10 students contesting this year’s GPS rugby premiership, the 15-year-old Terblanche showed he was no push over but rather a force to be reckoned with out at Brassall.

Terblanche’s safety under the garryowen was impressive given the gail force winds, and his turn of speed returning the ball allowed TSS to play a majority of the game in IGS’s half.

13. Kilarney Lavender (TSS)

The Southport School’s Kilarney Lavender. Picture by Richard Gosling

Lavender was in his element on Saturday.

The busy, always looking for work outside centre was always near the action, running the ball a bunch and fronting up on defence.

He set up a try, almost scored one and was arguably the best player on the ground.

12. Max Blanch (Churchie)

Max Blanch playing for Churchie earlier in the season.

Blanch was a rock in the mid field with granite like defence - and desperation as well as evidenced when he prevented Eli Langi scoring his fourth try. When he was not setting up a foundation with crash ball runs, Blanch was creative as well and did his best to engineer tries for his side..

11. Amaziah Murgha (IGS)

Ipswich Grammar’s slippery Year 12 fullback somehow manages to play better each week, a difficult feat given his dazzling first outing against Toowoomba Grammar in round two.

It is often a matter of quality over quantity for the electric Yarrabah product.

Murgha set up the first try scored by Walker, scored the second emphatically and assisted for the third and final try by Marlon Frost in a game where he had the Midas touch.

10. Illy Baravilala (TGS)

Illy Baravilala for Toowoomba Grammar School. Picture: Kevin Farmer

Baravilala’s ability to make plays and direct the team was on show and his kicking was superb.

The flyhalf was as composed as ever and scored the try in the second half that changed the game and captured a 14-point advantage that thwarted the Terrace comeback.

9. Joseph Post (IGS)

The consistent first rate performances from Ipswich Grammar’s first year First XV scrumhalf have flown under the radar this season but on Saturday demanded praise when he set up a try and almost another.

Post fronted up on defence like a forward, passed with the precision of a Super Rugby player and showed he was two plays ahead when he set up a Tyson Walker try and set free Brock Coombes who ran 50m.

He did his job and more in a game where Ipswich Grammar would have loved more possession.

8. Jye Crothers (Churchie)

Crothers put on his big boy pants to take on one of the physically most imposing packs in the competition.

Someone had to, and he took it upon himself to carry the ball courageously and aggressively, while he hustled at the breakdowns and harassed in defence, digging his shoulder in hard.

7. Trent Picot (BSHS)

Trent Picot of Brisbane State High School.

It was another first class display by this gun flanker whose work rate knows no bounds.

He pickpockets opponents at the breakdown, always makes important tackles and makes sure he is the number one or two support player chasing clearing kicks or backing up after a break.

6. Roman Siulepa (BSHS)

Roman Siulepa of BSHS influenced another win by his side. Picture, John Gass

Siulepa was a colossus again as BSHS’s challenge for the GPS premiership intensified.

He starred at No. 8, but to get the top performers from round six recognised he is named at blindside flanker.

Siulepa scored another try and leapt in the air from the kick off to win possession which led directly to another by his teammate, prop Tyrece Herniman.

Siulepa never died with the ball which put mounting pressure on the opposition’s defence.

5. Jonah Allen (Toowoomba Grammar)

Jonah Allen wins the ball for Toowoomba Grammar School. Picture: Kevin Farmer

Terrace had no answer for Allen, with the tight five forward’s pace and power too much for them to handle and all-important in the boys in blue and gold notching their second win.

Allen crossed over for three tries and was a class above in all areas of the contest.

4. Eli Langi (BSHS)

BSHS lock Eli Langi.

He scored three tries and was centimetres from a fourth.

One of BSHS’s best week-to-week players, Langi lives slightly in the shadow of his teammate Siupela, but this lock with the mobility of a back rower is one of the most skilled and hard working forwards in the competition.

3. Cyrus Suniala (Brisbane State High)

Big Cyrus Suniala crashes over for BSHS. Picture, John Gass

The BSHS hooker has been floating around Team of the Week selection all season.

Australian Schoolboy select Suniala is a work in progress, but the Year 11 student is displaying maturity beyond his years as his weeks progress.

Suniala, who played colts 1 for Sunnybank as a 16-year-old, carries with gusto, supports a fallen teammate over the ball with his sturdy frame, and is not exposed in defence.

He has been a success story in a team of success stories.

2. Lucas Bakker (BBC)

BBC had put a down payment on victory by halftime and hooker Bakker was instrumental for the home side with a first half double.

Bakker was unstoppable in the rolling maul, and brought up his hat-trick in the 53rd minute when he moved BBC in front 31-11.

In general play the hardworking front rower was unrelenting.

1. Kingsley Uys (TSS)

GPS First XV rugby between Nudgee College and The Southport School. Saturday July 20, 2024. Picture, John Gass

It is hard to believe TSS’s tight-head terror is still just 16 and in Year 11.

On Saturday, despite an uncharacteristic error or two, Uys’ powerful scrummaging and carries in centre field ensured TSS rarely had to defend their goal line.

RESERVES

Saia Poese (Terrace)

Saia Poese playing for Terrace against Toowoomba Grammar School. Picture: Kevin Farmer

The electric outside centre scored a runaway try early in the second half to keep Terrace in the clash

Poese brought energy throughout a difficult first half against the wind and was resolute in defence all day. He was one of the biggest omissions from the starting XV but it was impossible to go past thrill-a-minute performer Murgha and impressive 15-year-old Terblanche.

Gray O’Neill (BBC)

Gray O’Neill (third from the right in red headgear). Picture, John Gass

He was good last season. Great for the Queensland Reds Under-16s in the Spring. This season, he has reached new giddy heights by being BBC’s outstanding goalkicker and lineout jumper.

O’Neill struck the ball cleanly off the boot on Saturday, won all his lineouts, helped engineer three rolling maul tries scored by Bakker and you best believe he got his hands dirty around the breakdown and in defence.

Marlon Frost (IGS)

Marlon Frost about to score for Ipswich Grammar School. Picture: Kevin Farmer

What an impression Coffs Harbour ace Marlon Frost has made this year.

In his first season wearing red and white, Frost has been prolific scoring in the corner and telling with his defence when coming in off his wing.

Against TSS, rather than catch a cold on his wing Frost went looking for work and when it came calling, Frost delivered a thumping tackle, a try and positive touches in enterprising passages of play by the home side.

Hayden Keldie-Genner (TSS)

TSS’s lock would move a mountain for his side if he could, he just keeps toiling and won’t stop until the job is finished.

He is the type of blue collar worker who could be picked in the starting position each week and none would bat an eyelid because he is so consistent, so trusty and so technically sound.

On Saturday, his workrate, willingness to do the hard stuff and lineout reliability demanded respect.

Thomas Bailey (TGS)

Thomas Bailey of Toowoomba Grammar School. Picture: Kevin Farmer

Whenever TGS needed a run, Bailey was on hand to deliver. The barnstorming No. 8 was a force to be reckoned with and thwarted any momentum Terrace would have with his runs.

With metres hard to come by through the air due to the wind in the second half, Bailey was the go-to man to create space and yardage for TGS.

Archer Illot (Terrace)

Terrace flanker Illot was hard at work around the ball as he fought hard to defend against a rampaging TGS forward pack while also stealing the ball when the opportunities arose.

Myles Rosemond (TGS)

Myles Rosemond of Toowoomba Grammar School. Picture: Kevin Farmer

What a season Townsville terror Myles Rosemond is having.

Whenever he had the ball in Saturday’s affair the Terrace defenders held their breath in anticipation of what he might do with his blinding speed and footwork.

He set up the opening try of the game which set the tone for the contest.

Zac Reader (BGS)

Zac Reader attempts to tackle Treyvon Pritchard earlier this season.

Brisbane Grammar’s captain relished his move from flyhalf out the back to fullback where his deceiving off the mark speed and running capabilities saw him crack open the defence a handful of times.

Reader kicked well for goal nailing two penalties from wide out and he was sure of everything he did in his new position.

DJ Colaivalu (BBC)

BBC’s pacy right wing is a player who doesn’t look like they are trying out there, but does things that just make you go wow.

When he got his opportunities with the ball, Colaivalu made them count. On one occasion his turn of speed and awareness set up a try to Toby Kennedy and on any given day Colaivalu could produce something magical.