GPS First XV rugby: Seven things we learnt as Brisbane Grammar usher in a new era
GPS First XV rugby Rd 2 teams: BGS usher in 11 debut boys while other teams make a handful of key changes. Also see seven things learnt from Rd 1.
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Brisbane Boys Grammar have named 11 debut boys while an Ipswich Grammar man-mountain will make his first run on appearance against Brisbane State High on Saturday.
An exciting BGS have ushered in the new faces to partner experienced players for the big clash against Churchie as GPS First XV rugby comes to life for round 2.
Hooker Noah Gaffney, tighthead prop Owen Begley, Ironside State School product Arki Wackwitz and second-row partner Lewis Brinkworth andblindside flanker George Swan will all make their debuts in the pack.
Year 10 Rockhampton product Ralph Labor will also make his debut at scrumhalf alongside new back-line faces Bas Stoneley (flyhalf), Kalan Breen (wing), Sas Chinula (outside centre), Henry Slatter (wing) and Ned Horton (fullback).
Ned is following in the footsteps of his older brother Flynn who was a class act at scrumhalf in 2023 and 2024. Breen also comes into play with his older x-factor brother Elijah currently recovering from an ankle injury.
Kalan, representative halfback Labor and hooker Gaffney are all a glimpse into the future because they are only in Year 10 and will be key figures in the school’s program for years to come.
With experienced campaigners Dyer Akauola and Lincoln Dalton holding the lantern, expect the new look tight five to fire against Churchie.
For Churchie, Quade Burnham will make his debut at hooker while Koen McCann will also have his first taste on the wing.
Round 2 will also see IGS lock Ranel Filipine make his starting debut.
Filipine, a Year 10 student, earlier this year shone brightly for Souths Logan’s Cyril Connell Cup team and his long-levers and imposing stature will be hard to miss when BSHS look to get their season rolling away from home.
BSHS will unleash loosehead debutant Tristan Auela, a Year 11 student who has been impressing around the set piece.
Promising young gun Karter Iva will also make his run-on debut in jersey No.12 after coming off the bench in round 1. Defensive menace Malakaih Beals will return to the lineup on the wing as well for BSHS.
Gregory Terrace and TSS have named unchanged teams for their clashes against BBC and TGS respectively.
TGS have just one change with wing Matthew Johnston making his run-on debut.
SEVEN THINGS WE LEARNT
QUEENSLAND IS CHOCK-FULL OF NO.8S
The opening round taught us that Harry Wilson’s Wallaby successor may just emerge from the GPS competition, specifically this year’s class.
There’s a long way to go yet but in round 1 the No.8’s came to play and are going make a great case for selection in the Australian Under-18s side named in the Spring.
BBC captain Gray O’Neill was elite, as was Toowoomba Grammar’s Rhymen Tusi, who is currently in the Western Force Academy.
Nimble Churchie No.8 Sam Williams was also very good, while his opposite Elijah Galloway showed plenty despite his preferred position being prop.
Ipswich Grammar No.8 Tannar Baker had his prints all over his team’s winning start while it is common knowledge Gregory Terrace No.8 Oliver Nasser is one of the best at this level.
There was also no denying the class of Brisbane State High co-captain Jesse Maugati and Melbourne-marvel Teina Graham, Nudgee College’s powerful No.8, in the 2024 grand final rematch at Fursden Road.
Brisbane Grammar have an imposing No.8 of their own who joins the party this Saturday, Dolphins-signed 17-year-old Dyer Akauola.
THE MARGIN FOR ERROR HAS NEVER BEEN SMALLER
The match played between Toowoomba Grammar and Brisbane Boys’ College emphasised just how small the margin for error is this year.
BBC were at one stage leading 12-7 but the visitors had to work overtime after suffering two yellow cards on separate occasions and TGS pounced on tired bodies.
Regardless of the loss, teams must tread extremely carefully against BBC, especially now they know it’s must-win territory for their seven remaining games.
It would not surprise to see this year’s premiership shared or the winning team finish with a loss or two.
The competition is wide open. Energy and fast starts are essential and TGS nailed their getaway on Saturday up on the range.
CHURCHIE’S CONNECTIONS CAN CREATE SUCCESS
Churchie only scored two tries to TSS’s four on the weekend but came away with a 24-all draw.
The team’s work ethic, line speed and defence was outstanding and looking across the team, they have key figures in key positions which holds them in great stead moving forward.
Fullback Angus Underwood is the perfect foil around his backline division and his 83.33 per cent goal kicking indicates he is in for a fine season off the tee.
The mix of x-factor and defensive heart between centres Trey Pritchard and Bailen Noy is clear while the connection between sharp scrumhalf Alfie Bowman and fearless flyhalf Fletcher Austin is only going to improve as the season goes on.
Around a new-look Churchie front row, the school’s backrow trio of Duke Thallon, Tom Wood and Sam Williams is as good as any.
Thallon, a gutsy Year 11, tackled his heart out on Saturday and both Wood and Williams have returned even better than they were last year.
TSS WILL BE THEIR OWN JUDGES
TSS are in charge of their own destiny in 2025 and have the ability to be a premiership contender.
What stands in their way is finding the right balance, limiting errors and dialling in on discipline.
There were positive signs abound in the 24-all draw with Churchie. Locks Lachie Crain and Oscar Dunn were tops, while the backrow of Viliami Fifita, Ky Morris and Elijah Galloway is damaging to say the least.
Of course there were cobwebs that needed dusting off but if TSS find their stride, they will be awfully tough rivals.
It’s just a matter of the team finding that rhythm for 60-70 minutes.
NUDGEE COULD BE EVEN BETTER THAN LAST SEASON
Nudgee college were even more impressives than the 46-24 scoreline from its round one win against BSHS.
Such was the quality of the performance, it beckons the question - could this side be better than last season’s premiership winning side?
Nudgee’s back three of Barry Taukolo, Ollie Patterson and Noah Fien will slaughter teams with counterattack if opponents do not advance as a straight line in defence.
Fien has a long pass which can catch team’s out on the edge, even from the middle of the field.
Each of the Nudgee forwards were mobile and skilled, able to unload in contact, while the dynamic flankers Harry Bate and Ben Di Donna add balance to the side.
This looks a very good Nudgee side - again.
DON’T DISCOUNT IGS
After a rusty first half of the season performance, Ipswich Grammar School displayed strike power which will have opponents sitting up and taking notice.
The ball provided to the halves by the forwards, and the creation of No.10. Tyson Walker, helped ignite IGS’s exciting backline.
Centres Brock Coombes and Finn Kendall look like potential trump cards.
Watch this space.
BSHS AND TERRACE HAVE HOPE
Despite getting within 10 points of Nudgee, BSHS were well beaten.
But there is hope.
You could see the talent was there in this young First XV outfit and the squad will be so much better for the round one hit out against the premiership front runners.
It would surprise no one to see BSHS rebound and hit the bullseye this weekend.
Terrace were also well beaten by IGS, but they will also be much better for the hit out under pressure.
The Terrace forwards have even more to give, and have experienced game pressure.
If they can be more polished they can hold their own this season.
ROUND 2 TEAMS
Churchie: 1. Jacob Knowles, 2. Quade Burnham**, 3. Harry Batkin, 4. Spencer Parkes, 5. Liam Gordon, 6. Duke Thallon, 7. Tom Wood, 8. Sam Williams, 9. Alfie Bowman, 10. Fletcher Austin, 11. Will Chandler, 12. Trey Pritchard, 13. Bailen Noy, 14. Koen McCann**, 15. Angus Underwood.
BGS: Jed Siganto, 2. Noah Gaffney**, 3. Owen Begley**, 4. Arki Wackwitz**, 5. Lewis Brinkworth**, 6. George Swan**, 7. Lincoln Dalton, 8. Dyer Akauola, 9. Ralph Labor**, 10. Bas Stoneley**, 11. Kalan Breen**, 12. Harper Enasio, 13. Sas Chinula**, 14. Henry Slatter**, 15. Ned Horton**.
IGS: 1. Tyler Riddell, 2. Caleb West, 3. Lance Po-Ching, 4. Ranel Filipine**, 5. Mostyn Bowen, 6. Tom Smith, 7. Lane Edmonds, 8. Tannar Baker, 9. Jack Garnier, 10. Tyson Walker, 11. Hemi Rakuita, 12. Brock Coombes, 13. Finn Kendall, 14. Leo Briggs, 15. Marlon Frost (C).
BSHS: 1. Tristan Auela**, 2. Cyrus Suniula, 3. Darnel Taki, 4. Luke Thornton, 5. Manasa Vunibola, 6. Robert Piutau, Henry Willis, 8. Jesse Maugatai (co-captain), 9. Isaiah Nuku, 10. Richie Taulagi, 11. Malakaih Beals, 12. Karter Iva**, 13. Taoso Taoso, 14. Jeremiah Patea, 15. Angus Tagicakibau (co-captain).
TSS: 1. Kingsley Uys (captain), 2. Ryder Tee, 3. Hunter Pyke, 4. Oscar Dunn, 5. Lachie Crain, 6. Viliami Fifita, 7. Ky Morris, 8. Elijah Galloway, 9. Jason Campese, 10. Dallas Ingram, 11. Lewis McDermid, 12. Kilarney Lavender, 13. Ashton McDermid, 14. Dylan Terblanche, 15. James Smith.
TGS: 1. Arch Campbell, 2. Ruben Kruger, 3. Harrison Humphreys, 4. Ben Walker, 5. Rupeni Baravilala (co-captain), 6. Ethan Ramsay, 7. Keegan Cook, 8. Rhymen, Tusi, 9. Jack Brown, 10. Cooper Brown, 11. Petelo Maka, 12. Luke Burrow (co-captain), 13. Adam Davis, 14. Matthew Johnston**, 15. Myles Rosemond.
GT: 1. Jerry Harbottle, 2. Charlie Hollyman, 3. Nick Weir, 4. Rupert McGrath, 5. William Devine, 6. Hugo Hawke, 7. Archer Ilott, 8. Oliver Nasser (captain), 9. George Hales (vice-captain), 10. Tom Weir, 11. Ioane Feaunati, 12. Franck Iraguha, 13. Tom Merrett, 14. Frank Illot, 15. William Dennis.
BBC: 1. Jeremiah Kite, 2. Luke Nilsson, 3. Harry Asi, 4. Jack Randall, 5. Tavita Loughland, 6. Charlie Wehl, 7. Kiama Jione, 8. Gray O’Neill (captain), 9. Harry Munro, 10. Toby Kennedy, 11. Ryder Koia, 12. Cooper Goodman, 13. Taione Taka (vice-captain), 14. Cooper Murray, 15. Jonah Wilde.
Round 3
NUDGEE V IGS
TGS V BGS
BSHS V BBC
TERRACE V TSS
Originally published as GPS First XV rugby: Seven things we learnt as Brisbane Grammar usher in a new era
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