NRC Rnd 1: Brisbane City v Fiji Drua

[RugbyReg]

This Saturday at 3pm at GPS Rugby Club

Brisbane:

1 Ruan Smith – GPS
2 Brandon Paenga-Amosa – Sunnybank
3 Josh Nasser – University of Queensland
4 Ryan Smith – Brothers**
5 Rob Puliuvea – Wests*
6 Michael Wood – Brothers*
7 Fraser McReight – Brothers
8 Seru Uru – Easts**
9 Moses Sorovi – Wests
10 Isaac Lucas – Sunnybank**
11 Liam McNamara – Sunnybank*
12 Teti Tela – Souths*
13 Hunter Paisami – Wests*
14 Sefa Naivalu – Norths*
15 Lawson Creighton – Brothers

16 Sean Farrell – Souths
17 Rhys van Nek – Easts***
18 Dane Zander – Norths***
19 Bradford Kapa – Brothers****
20 Adam Korcyzk – University of Queensland
21 Sam Wallis – University of Queensland
22 Nick Chapman – Norths***
23 Isaac Henry – Wests***

 

[upthereds#!]

Seems a solid team. Definitely some real professional level mass and height there in the pack. Good to see some legit tall timber and big bodies.

Good to see Wood at BS, which one would think is definitely more his cup of tea. Seems like a tough, aggressive and abrasive player.

Lightweight backline, but solid experience for this level so hopefully they have the moves and the speed.

 

[Finsbury Girl]

Looks weak compared to previous years. Korcyck should consider himself extremely unlucky as his form in the last few weeks has been amazing.

Also a severe lack of blokes from Yoku Road considering how well we went all year.

 

[RugbyReg]

Looks weak compared to previous years. Korcyck should consider himself extremely unlucky as his form in the last few weeks has been amazing.

Also a severe lack of blokes from Yoku Road considering how well we went all year.

yeah but in reality the other three backrowers have Reds contracts next year and Adam doesn't.

This team looks better than I expected. In fact potentially stronger than the Country side.

 

[MeanGreen]

Interesting to put Sefa on the wing given he is departing for France? Would like to see this tournament used as a pathway for youth. On the flipside he might be a good mentor and have experience to provide to up and coming. Thoughts?

 

[upthereds#!]

Interesting to put Sefa on the wing given he is departing for France? Would like to see this tournament used as a pathway for youth. On the flipside he might be a good mentor and have experience to provide to up and coming. Thoughts?

Can only dig so far into developing players. There are already a considerable amount of teenagers and 20-21 year olds across the teams, plus club journeymen.

 

[Adam84]

Interesting to put Sefa on the wing given he is departing for France? Would like to see this tournament used as a pathway for youth. On the flipside he might be a good mentor and have experience to provide to up and coming. Thoughts?

I think they need to be careful about compromising the standard of the competition for the sake of development... At the end of the day if they focus too much on development and not enough on the standard of the competition, then both parties ultimately lose out. Players get better by playing alongside and against other high calibre players, that's where the ITM Cup is still ahead of the NRC in development stakes.

 

[Adam84]

Fiji Drua have been in a training camp for about 5-6 weeks prior to this, a lot of fresh players since 2018 but will still pose a massive threat, there are 4 players from the U20s Fiji team in the match day squad

1. Joeli Veitayaki
2. Tevita Ikanivere
3. Mosese Ducivaki
4. Tevita Naqali
5. Necani Nawaqadau
6. Eremasi Radrodro (C)
7. Jone Navori
8. Johnny Dyer
9. Seru Vularika (VC)
10. Peceli Nacebe
11. Levani Kurimudu
12. Cyril Reece
13. Ifereimi Tovilevu
14. Aporosa Tabulawaki
15. Samisoni Viriviri

16. Maikeli Sivo
17. Immanuel Naciva
18. Joseva Nasaroa
19. Epeli Radaniva
20. Ulaiasi Lawavou
21. Joseva Kuricuva
22. Caleb Muntz
23. Osea Waqa

 

[The Nomad]

Lucas at 10 a pointer for 2020?

 

[PhilClinton]

That City team resembles an equal opportunities team. Couple of weird selections considering the players in the squad and going up against the defending premiers. Anyway, I’ll be down to watch. Hopefully they go well.

 

[Adam84]

Fijian Drua are going to be a high scoring team again in 2019...

Isaac Lucas looking pretty good at 10 so far, Tela, MCreight and Wood have all been playing well as well.

Not sure of the Fijians names, but the No.8 and the halfback are very good players.

 

[Shaker]

Its only 17-15 but i feel like defence has been an afterthought in this game. So many linebreaks.

 

[Adam84]

Fraser McReight off injured

 

[Shaker]

Fijian 8 looking like an absolute beast in the breakdown.

 

[Rugbynutter39]

Dyer for fiji at the breakdown has been outstanding...how he does not have a professional contract I would like to understand

 

[Rugbynutter39]

I reckon Tahs could do worse than sign Dyer (Fijian 8)

 

[Shaker]

That was a banger.

 

[Rugbynutter39]

Gees that was a great game to watch. Drua add so much value to this competition but equally Brisbane city were good value to watch today. Lucas very good at 10. But for me Fijian 8 Dyer was the player who should be on a few radars for a professional contract.

 

[Oldschool]

Top game of footy
Hunter Paisami running lines, get smashed, and bounces up to do it again.

 

[WorkingClassRugger]

Gees that was a great game to watch. Drua add so much value to this competition but equally Brisbane city were good value to watch today. Lucas very good at 10. But for me Fijian 8 Dyer was the player who should be on a few radars for a professional contract.

He's been consistently one of the Drua standouts since inception. Which makes you wonder why he hasn't been snapped up? Likes his life in Fiji perhaps.