GPS First XV rugby: Veteran coach reveals TSS’ top two players

GPS First XV rugby: Who were the top two The Southport School players mentored by coaching doyen Mike Wallace since 2010? Revealed here, along with several magic moments.

TSS Player Jye Gray. Picture Mike Batterham

GPS First XV coaching doyen Mike Wallace has nominated Jye Gray and Zane Nonggorr as the top two players he coached at The Southport School.

After 13 years, four premierships and a winning ratio of 76 per cent, Wallace has stepped back into an assistant’s role at TSS to spend more time with his family.

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The former Australian schoolboys coach continues to be a teacher at TSS which has always been his No.1 priority at The Southport School. The TSS head coach is Tai McIsaac.

Wallace, who recently named the best 23 players he coached against, said utility back Gray and prop Nonggorr were the top two players he had mentored at TSS since 2010.

“There have been some phenomenal players, but the two players who had the biggest impact on any game were Zane Nonggorr and Jye Gray,’’ Wallace said.

TSS’s Zane Nonggorr. Picture AAP/David Clark

“The great thing about both of those guys was that they had to grow their game, they had to get better.

“They both came in with great skills, but the great thing about those guys is that they wanted to be better, they wanted to work harder.’’

“And they did that. Both worked incredibly hard at their craft.

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“They were both academically very good and very good students in all areas, not just in rugby.

TSS’ player Zane Nonggorr. Picture Mike Batterham

“They contributed in other areas, other sports, they contributed in class.

“But in terms of pure impact on the rugby field, those two are head and shoulders.’’

Prop Nonggorr was capped for Australia earlier this year while Gray is in the South Sydney rugby league system.

Gray, who often swung between inside centre and fullback in the same match, had an amazing 2022 when he captained TSS to a joint GPS premiership, won a premiership with his league side Souths Logan and captained the Queensland schoolboys league team to victory.

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WALLACE’S MAGIC MOMENTS

The Southport School v Nudgee College, Ross Oval, 2010

Trailing 22-12 with five minutes remaining, TSS won a scrum and worked the ball left where captain Sean Cox managed to score next to the posts, making it 22-19.

Then, with no time left on the clock, TSS found themselves in their own in-goal area, 100m from scoring.

Jye Gray scores. Pic Mike Batterham

In possession the ball was shifted across the tryline toward TSS captain Cox who released left winger Lausi Tauliuli.

“He went down the left sideline in front of the grandstand and threw a pass infield to our halfback Matt Fannington who sprinted away to score under the posts. We won 26-22.’’

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The Southport School v Brisbane Boys College at TSS, 2018

TSS encountered a powerhouse BBC which included recent Wallaby Bledisloe Cup selection Carter Gordon at No.10, schoolboy centre sensation Jack Howarth and Australian lock Darcy Swain.

“We had a really good game plan and our No.10 Campbell Parata knew how to run a game for you,’’ Wallace said.

“We took them on upfront and we scored 50 points on the day. It was such a surprise because BBC were so good. We scored eight tries – it was so pleasing.’’

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The Southport School v Nudgee College, Ross Oval, 2018.

In the premiership decider TSS turned at halftime down 22-nil but with the wind at their back.

Nudgee extended their lead into the second half but TSS surged home, getting back to 29-all.

Then late, very late, Nudgee centre ace Josh Flook chipped the ball ahead to engineer the winning try.

The Southport School supporters watching a TSS v Nudgee clash.. Picture, John Gass

“It was a brutal way to lose a premiership,’’ Wallace recalled.

“But that game was the reason you watch schoolboy rugby – two teams, well coached, the ball was moving and it was well refereed.’’

AND ONE FINAL WORD

“I read and hear a lot about rugby being in trouble, people turning off etc,’’ Wallace said.

But not at schoolboy level.

“I love how it is a full 15 man game, that if you are an outside back, you cannot succeed unless the tight forwards were doing their job.

“At school level if you have creative coaches, school kids aren’t afraid to have a go.

“They are not worried about getting their next contract or anything like that, they are just going out to represent their school and their mates.

“That means there is a certain freedom that doesn’t exist at the professional level that probably once did exist.

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“And that’s a shame, but that is probably the reality of professional sport.

“There was a book published in New Zealand in the 1970s called Champagne Rugby, and that was all about schoolboy rugby.

“And that is kind of what I still think it is today.

“The rugby played at First XV level right across the state is as good as you would see anywhere in terms of pure entertainment.

“If you just want to go and be entertained by a game, go to a game of First XV schoolboy rugby.’’

ROUND 6

Terrace v BSHS

Churchie v TSS

BGS v IGS

Nudgee v BBC

The Southport School player including Jye Gray, left. Picture, John Gass

Originally published as GPS First XV rugby: Veteran coach reveals TSS’ top two players