Informer
Ward Prentice (10)
Lee, from memory they announced the 2008 merit team but did not go through the whole routine of introducing each player individually at the post match event. Gill definitely got the award as player of the tournament.
National U/16 Championships 2011
- Thread starter Lee Grant
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Lee, from memory they announced the 2008 merit team but did not go through the whole routine of introducing each player individually at the post match event. Gill definitely got the award as player of the tournament.
Leicester Tiger
Herbert Moran (7)
As hard as it is for me to say, the best team definitely won on the day. A big congratulations to QLD and to all the teams for a great week of rugby.
QLD continued in the same way as their previous games with excellent support play and overlaps on both sides of the field. First 15 mins was an arm wrestle and then they ran in 5 unanswered tries before half time.
QLD continued in the same way as their previous games with excellent support play and overlaps on both sides of the field. First 15 mins was an arm wrestle and then they ran in 5 unanswered tries before half time.
M
magpie4ever
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Well. well, well. Can I just say I (and a few others) told you so many moons ago. When the powers that be continue to serve up the same crap - GPS players with a sprinkling of CHS the result was never in doubt. Until all players from all associations are given a fair go NSW will always have a shallow pool. Some of the best players from the other associations never got a look in & many have probably walked away (to league). The ARU tried to formulate a system of NSW 1,2,3 (merit teams selected from players from all associations) but were attacked continuously for this and I don't know why but gave in to the leather patch brigade.
CTPE
Nev Cottrell (35)
Still banging that anti-GPS drum Magpie notwithstanding that with with similar GPS representation to this year, NSW Schools teams won the National Championships in 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007 and 2009 and were runners up this year...not a bad record I suggest. The GPS (Presidents) team were standouts at the NSW Schools Championships winning that Carnival quite easily and as the results and performances in that Carnival are the basis for Schools selections it stands to reason that GPS had a high number of players represented. I'm open minded about the ARU's proposal for a NSW 1's, 2's and 3's but I don't expect that the NSWSRU, SJRU or NSWCJRU will surrender their respective powers to select and enter teams in the National Championships. That being the case how would you otherwise propose that a Schools team be selected if not through results and performances at the Schools Championsips?
As for the finals games Qld 1's were too strong for Schools as were the Qld 2's over Sydney. The backs in both Qld sides performed much better than their NSW/Sydney opponents and the defensive qualities of some of the Schools and Sydneys backs was rudely exposed. The plodders in the Schools front three (and their counterparts on the bench) didn't assist their cause. Modern rugby requires props and hookers who not only have a degree of size and scrummaging ability but who have mobility, endurance and exeptional work rates. Got to also query some of the selections in the run on sides especially the Schools team (eg I can't understand why King didn't start at 2 and why Davis wasn't the starting no 9)
I wouldn't be too miffed about it. I was surprised by how much the Qld teams beat the two NSW teams by today but IIRR NSW teams have won in the last couple of years.
You may be doing the Qld Reds an injustice because I've been to a few U/16 tournaments and they are the best team I can remember from any of them.
If your only concern is that if NSW had three teams then there should have been a better selection process because they weren't the best 69 players in the state, and some lads missed out in that lot you may have a point, but Qld had only 46 players getting a chance.
I'm not a player or a parent so I didn't care who won today or didn't; never do. I just want to see the best players in the country running around, and if some lads miss out on that they always have a chance the following year in Opens or even the year after. By that time surely 90% of the best schoolboys would have been covered. I know it's important to the lads who miss out in any given year and that parents feel badly for them, but whatever system is used there are always going to be unlucky players and new ideas propounded of how to do it better.
You may be doing the Qld Reds an injustice because I've been to a few U/16 tournaments and they are the best team I can remember from any of them.
If your only concern is that if NSW had three teams then there should have been a better selection process because they weren't the best 69 players in the state, and some lads missed out in that lot you may have a point, but Qld had only 46 players getting a chance.
I'm not a player or a parent so I didn't care who won today or didn't; never do. I just want to see the best players in the country running around, and if some lads miss out on that they always have a chance the following year in Opens or even the year after. By that time surely 90% of the best schoolboys would have been covered. I know it's important to the lads who miss out in any given year and that parents feel badly for them, but whatever system is used there are always going to be unlucky players and new ideas propounded of how to do it better.
M
magpie4ever
Guest
I don't wish to bag any of the boys, the selection system is the problem. Good individual players from CCC, ISA, AICES & Country don't get a look in. I put forward a proposal on the previous blog (around page 78 at a guess) - in summary, associations select their squads then these are mixed so the new squads are fairly even. Tourament played, 3 NSW teams selected, winning coach of the tournament winners, coaches NSW 1 etc etc.
Western Australia 36 Brumbies 12
It was a disappointing week for the Brumbies and they were well beaten by WA today. WA played some good rugby some times this week and liked the sunnier conditions today. They scored a magic try started by a scrummie snipe, support from the 6, then back and forth between these two players again before play went to ground and a try was scored from the ruck. Terrific
I haven't mentioned WA 13. JC Smith before and that was remiss of me because he's been hard to stop a lot of times this week as though covered by snakes and spiders.
Qld Whites 53 Sydney Juniors 22
This scoreline surprised me because I thought that the teams were fairly close but the Whites also seemed to play better when the sun was out. Their lineout was certainly better than the shambles yesterday.
LHP Lawless finished off a very good week by having some dynamic runs; 7 Bougoure had another top game and lock Roe had his best game of the week running like a back sometimes and dishing out the ball once after a good run and taking the return pass to score. 12. Hayes also had a good game with some incisive runs and is another centre I should have mentioned before.
Juniors were outclassed but scored some good tries when the Whites dropped their guard. 8. Afele had his best game of the week and 15. Jones made the most of his chances.
Victoria 61 NSW Country 26
I saw only 15 minutes of this game on the other ground before the main game, but the Vics, 5-0 down, scored 4 tries in that time, nearly all of them helter skelter. The Vics are not as polished footie players as some of the other teams but they have terrific attacking flair. It will be interesting to see them in the Opens next year to see how their defence has developed.
This was the 2nd disappointing thrashing of Country this week and their poor teamwork was reflected in their defence. They have some fine players such as 3. McLean and 10. Andrews but sometimes they had their heads down instead of chin up, as they did in a gritty win against WA yesterday.
Qld Reds 48 NSW Schools 14
I thought the Reds could win by 20 but I didn't expect that winning margin, especial after the early period which was fairly even. The Reds looked fitter both in body and mind and played better together. Their pack was a pack in every sense: they hunted together. They were also the recipients of some poor kicks. Add in more players better than their direct opponents, including one schoolboy star, and a 34 point difference is explained.
I will speak of some of the players in a later post on my team of the tournament; so I won't duplicate those remarks here.
It was a disappointing week for the Brumbies and they were well beaten by WA today. WA played some good rugby some times this week and liked the sunnier conditions today. They scored a magic try started by a scrummie snipe, support from the 6, then back and forth between these two players again before play went to ground and a try was scored from the ruck. Terrific
I haven't mentioned WA 13. JC Smith before and that was remiss of me because he's been hard to stop a lot of times this week as though covered by snakes and spiders.
Qld Whites 53 Sydney Juniors 22
This scoreline surprised me because I thought that the teams were fairly close but the Whites also seemed to play better when the sun was out. Their lineout was certainly better than the shambles yesterday.
LHP Lawless finished off a very good week by having some dynamic runs; 7 Bougoure had another top game and lock Roe had his best game of the week running like a back sometimes and dishing out the ball once after a good run and taking the return pass to score. 12. Hayes also had a good game with some incisive runs and is another centre I should have mentioned before.
Juniors were outclassed but scored some good tries when the Whites dropped their guard. 8. Afele had his best game of the week and 15. Jones made the most of his chances.
Victoria 61 NSW Country 26
I saw only 15 minutes of this game on the other ground before the main game, but the Vics, 5-0 down, scored 4 tries in that time, nearly all of them helter skelter. The Vics are not as polished footie players as some of the other teams but they have terrific attacking flair. It will be interesting to see them in the Opens next year to see how their defence has developed.
This was the 2nd disappointing thrashing of Country this week and their poor teamwork was reflected in their defence. They have some fine players such as 3. McLean and 10. Andrews but sometimes they had their heads down instead of chin up, as they did in a gritty win against WA yesterday.
Qld Reds 48 NSW Schools 14
I thought the Reds could win by 20 but I didn't expect that winning margin, especial after the early period which was fairly even. The Reds looked fitter both in body and mind and played better together. Their pack was a pack in every sense: they hunted together. They were also the recipients of some poor kicks. Add in more players better than their direct opponents, including one schoolboy star, and a 34 point difference is explained.
I will speak of some of the players in a later post on my team of the tournament; so I won't duplicate those remarks here.
I
International Badboy
Guest
Magpie there is a country team for the country players, and a sydney juniors team which includes players like Clark and Orr and other boys who attend CAS and other association schools. Most boys that are picked in the Schools team don't play club rugby, they are often the GPS boys. Also the fact you bang on about how boys aren't given equal selection in this team seems to me you place it above country and Sydney when they aren't even graded, they just have the better cattle and they happen to attend GPS schools
Here's my attempt at a team of the tournament.
I didn't see the first day, and anyway haven't seen most of these players before this week, unlike others who follow the age group closely, especially relatives. No doubt some will think this player is better than the other one because they've seen them play a lot and no doubt those folks are right, but take this as just an estimate from watching nearly 190 lads running around the park on 3 days all trying their best and sometimes not able to.
1. Benroy Sala - Qld Whites
A smokey because he was a reserve for the Whites, but he shifted people around whether they had the ball, he had the ball, or nobody had the ball.
2. Andrew Manu – Qld Reds
Hard as nails; good leg drive when stopped; scored a top try today when he had no right to. High and effective work rate. Watch this space on young Andrew.
3. Dylan Sikimeti – Qld Reds
Had 3 bruising games – the bruising being mostly on opponents; a tank with the ball in hand.
4. Josh Schwager – NSW Schools
Was like Nathan Sharpe in some games running with the ball and was good enough in the line out.
5. Adam Korczyk – Qld Reds
Mobile 2nd rower and able to play like a linking backrower.
6. Brad Wilkin – Qld Reds
Played openside flanker mostly but wore the 6 jersey and had to be in the team for work rate well used.
7. Stuart Bougoure – Qld Whites
Similar remarks. An energiser bunny of a player. Smallish but as hard as nails and skilful.
8. Feriti Sa'aga – Victoria
There were some good no. 8 types, some of them playing prop, would you believe, but the Vic lad seemed to bowl over move defenders than others.
9. Joey Lussick – NSW Schools
Big lad for a scrummie. Looked the steadiest under pressure.
10. Duncan Paai'aua – Qld Reds
Excellent ball runner for a 10 and scored a brilliant individual try today. Knows how to run a backline too.
11. Andrew Kellaway – NSW Schools
Played fullback during the week but was the only player from the state who the hardest markers, Queensland parents, had any regard for. Had some defensive lapses because of bad choices as fullback but showed wingers skills during the week.
12. Jack Tuttle – Qld Reds
Player of the tournament and put on a virtuoso performance today. He has it all: as fast as a winger, passes long and flat like Larkham, steps and swerves and takes people with him when stopped, tackles everything. Watch this space.
13. Tepai Moeroa – NSW Schools
Probably the best of one of several good physical centres during the week.
14. Bill Valetini - Victoria
Not a complete footie player yet but a top finisher.
15. Jonah Placid – Qld Reds
Had a brilliant week, especially today when he made incursions, Cullen like, time after time. Hard to judge him as a defensive fullback because his team was so dominant.
Please, no comments about not enough from a team, or none, or too many from another team. Sure players playing in weaker teams would have looked better in a stronger team and vice versa but I had to call it how I saw it.
I didn't see the first day, and anyway haven't seen most of these players before this week, unlike others who follow the age group closely, especially relatives. No doubt some will think this player is better than the other one because they've seen them play a lot and no doubt those folks are right, but take this as just an estimate from watching nearly 190 lads running around the park on 3 days all trying their best and sometimes not able to.
1. Benroy Sala - Qld Whites
A smokey because he was a reserve for the Whites, but he shifted people around whether they had the ball, he had the ball, or nobody had the ball.
2. Andrew Manu – Qld Reds
Hard as nails; good leg drive when stopped; scored a top try today when he had no right to. High and effective work rate. Watch this space on young Andrew.
3. Dylan Sikimeti – Qld Reds
Had 3 bruising games – the bruising being mostly on opponents; a tank with the ball in hand.
4. Josh Schwager – NSW Schools
Was like Nathan Sharpe in some games running with the ball and was good enough in the line out.
5. Adam Korczyk – Qld Reds
Mobile 2nd rower and able to play like a linking backrower.
6. Brad Wilkin – Qld Reds
Played openside flanker mostly but wore the 6 jersey and had to be in the team for work rate well used.
7. Stuart Bougoure – Qld Whites
Similar remarks. An energiser bunny of a player. Smallish but as hard as nails and skilful.
8. Feriti Sa'aga – Victoria
There were some good no. 8 types, some of them playing prop, would you believe, but the Vic lad seemed to bowl over move defenders than others.
9. Joey Lussick – NSW Schools
Big lad for a scrummie. Looked the steadiest under pressure.
10. Duncan Paai'aua – Qld Reds
Excellent ball runner for a 10 and scored a brilliant individual try today. Knows how to run a backline too.
11. Andrew Kellaway – NSW Schools
Played fullback during the week but was the only player from the state who the hardest markers, Queensland parents, had any regard for. Had some defensive lapses because of bad choices as fullback but showed wingers skills during the week.
12. Jack Tuttle – Qld Reds
Player of the tournament and put on a virtuoso performance today. He has it all: as fast as a winger, passes long and flat like Larkham, steps and swerves and takes people with him when stopped, tackles everything. Watch this space.
13. Tepai Moeroa – NSW Schools
Probably the best of one of several good physical centres during the week.
14. Bill Valetini - Victoria
Not a complete footie player yet but a top finisher.
15. Jonah Placid – Qld Reds
Had a brilliant week, especially today when he made incursions, Cullen like, time after time. Hard to judge him as a defensive fullback because his team was so dominant.
Please, no comments about not enough from a team, or none, or too many from another team. Sure players playing in weaker teams would have looked better in a stronger team and vice versa but I had to call it how I saw it.
M
magpie4ever
Guest
Some people do not get what I'm trying to say. Say, for example: AICES have two of potentially best footballers this country will ever see, but only play league on weekends and rugby at school. Now because they are part of the AICES squad at the current schools tournament and this squad is totally outclassed because the other 21 members aren't quite there, so in every game the team is going backwards these two future champions do not get sighted (not through lack of effort), so they are lost to the game. So, if all squads were evened out and a true selection trial was held - the cream would rise to the top - with totally independent selectors. So you would not get the best association getting the majority of selections, you would get the best players being selected in NSW 1, 2 & 3 and I can assure you the queenslanders wouldn't be winning 48 -14.
Once again, I am not having a go at the boys selected but the problem is with the selection process (independence of the selectors and a NSW coach selected before the tournament), the power games played by the different groups, it divides and conquers. Having watched the NSW schools titles, I can assure you that GPS did not have 14 of the best players or how many were selected out of the 23 selected, who played in that tournament. Sure they had the best team (although I believe CCC would have given them a tighter game if they played the final) but there were players in the other associations who got zero or 1 player selected, if you stood back and watched you could see that if this player here or that player there was placed in a better team they would shine.
Fair points magpie ( I hope it isn't Collingwood Magpie) but....
Look at Lee's Team of the tournament. The majority of them were Queenslanders.
Would the two or three "overlooked" for NSW Schools players have really made such a difference?
Is this all about which state is best, or providing pathway development opportunities for the future.
Things ebb and flow. Some years QLD are winners, others not. History of past winners is somewhere else on this thread.
Chris Latham apparently did not play rugby until he was 18, yet he became arguably one of our best professional era Fullbacks.
If the kid is any good, they will eventually make it to the top.
Sad we lose some to mungoball but such is life. This is not a NSW phenomena. A good mate of the Jarses was in the 100 odd preliminary QLD U16 train on squad. He got cut at some stage and did not make the final U19 Reds or Whites squad, despite being a decent sort of rugby player as well as a Mungoballer.
The kid is being scouted by mungo scouts, and in some respects, good on them. Rugby and Mungoball are both legitimate occupations today, and if one mob do not want you then why not try your luck with the Shoe Shitters.
Unfortunately there are professional athlete positions in 16 Mungoball franchises and only 5 rugby full time Super franchises.
I agree with Lees "Bloody Parents" comments.
Look at Lee's Team of the tournament. The majority of them were Queenslanders.
Would the two or three "overlooked" for NSW Schools players have really made such a difference?
Is this all about which state is best, or providing pathway development opportunities for the future.
Things ebb and flow. Some years QLD are winners, others not. History of past winners is somewhere else on this thread.
Chris Latham apparently did not play rugby until he was 18, yet he became arguably one of our best professional era Fullbacks.
If the kid is any good, they will eventually make it to the top.
Sad we lose some to mungoball but such is life. This is not a NSW phenomena. A good mate of the Jarses was in the 100 odd preliminary QLD U16 train on squad. He got cut at some stage and did not make the final U19 Reds or Whites squad, despite being a decent sort of rugby player as well as a Mungoballer.
The kid is being scouted by mungo scouts, and in some respects, good on them. Rugby and Mungoball are both legitimate occupations today, and if one mob do not want you then why not try your luck with the Shoe Shitters.
Unfortunately there are professional athlete positions in 16 Mungoball franchises and only 5 rugby full time Super franchises.
I agree with Lees "Bloody Parents" comments.
M
magpie4ever
Guest
If we had selected three NSW teams there would have been more then 2 or 3 changes, all blues team would have had a totally differnt look.
CTPE
Nev Cottrell (35)
This is the Qld U16 squad for todays game against NSW Juniors U16.
Ben Boehm
Ben Hicks
Cory Vela
Daniel Ebbels
Dylan Matthews
Ethan Machin
Gus McClanachan
Jack Heenan
Jack Leamon
Jack Martin
James Todd
Joshua Tregenza
Junior Fakaosilea
Lucas Goodin
Nathan Cooper
Nathan Haar
Patrick Andersen
Sam Butterworth
Sam Dick
Shane Parkinson
Thomas Given
Tim Manns
Zac Daddo
Notice anything???
It doesn't appear that any player in the squad was a member of either the Qld Red or White teams that played this week!! Compare this with the NSWJRU U16 team
Ben Boehm
Ben Hicks
Cory Vela
Daniel Ebbels
Dylan Matthews
Ethan Machin
Gus McClanachan
Jack Heenan
Jack Leamon
Jack Martin
James Todd
Joshua Tregenza
Junior Fakaosilea
Lucas Goodin
Nathan Cooper
Nathan Haar
Patrick Andersen
Sam Butterworth
Sam Dick
Shane Parkinson
Thomas Given
Tim Manns
Zac Daddo
Notice anything???
It doesn't appear that any player in the squad was a member of either the Qld Red or White teams that played this week!! Compare this with the NSWJRU U16 team
rugboy
Bob Loudon (25)
Know for certain after conversations with the broncos football people that 10 Paai'aua and 15 Placid are broncos boys. As CTPE said 9 Joey and 13 Tepai are with Parramatta. And was told (not sure 100% sure of it's accuracy) that the storm were after 14. Bill and the Vic outside centre also. Added to that Broncos also have the other reds centre Corcoran and the other schools centre Milne is with the Roosters.
Knockers
Ward Prentice (10)
It is because that team is chosen through the club competition. The state championships which the people in this team had to attend was held only a few days prior to the national championships.
Man on the hill
Alex Ross (28)
Anyone go? Like to share scores & observations?
rugboy
Bob Loudon (25)
Fairly dour game that never really reached any great heights especially when compared to some of the play throughout the week. Scoreless for much of the first half before NSW started to get the upper hand. 10 mins into the second half and NSW had moved out to a 20-0 lead mostly through their forwards. In fact despite the imminent threat of Tepai and Harry Jones out wide I could probably count on one hand the amount of ball they got. QLD finally got on the board late when a NSW clearing kick from behind the their goal line hit the back of one of their own and fell in goal in front of three QLD players one of which only need lay a hand on it to score.
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