GPS Rugby Sydney 2012

riverview won 26-22 against a team that nobody gave a chance (a lot of the school itself had doubts that today was going to be any different to what happened in the trials) and they almost stole it from you and after speaking to a number of riverview boys, they admit that they had concerns towards the end of that game.. next year will be the best competition the GPS has seen in many years

the teams for 2012:

Riverview - the defending champions are in the exact same position as newington were at the end of 2010, they keep a lot of talent, but lose a lot of key players, most notably the loss of wells and vaux will impact this side heavily, but the return of rorke, redden and whiteley will see riverview go very close to gaining their 11th premiership in 2012. PREDICTION (2nd)

Kings - they were fairly good in the firsts this year, their seconds weren't great, but the 16A's are very highly praised by almost everyone i've spoken to, they will come back to being a real threat for the premiership next season, and have kept some very good players from this years firsts who matched the top teams in the league more than once in 2011. PREDICTION (4th)

Newington - really weren't as impressive this year as they were last year, but then again last year was a hard act to follow with one of the most dominant schoolboy rugby teams i have ever seen, but next year they should have another strong team, but again they are losing key players in key positions (just like last year) and i think they will struggle at times. PREDICTION (3rd)

Shore - seem to be the most unlucky school in the competition, but in the end luck can only account for so much, shore seem to slip off late in games and they lost close finishes to joeys, view, scots and newington, they could provide upsets and wouldn't surprise me if they did better than expected, but won't until they deal with their issues in closing games. PREDICTION (6th)

Scots - retaining jim stewart, but one centre can't make a team, really 2011 should have been their year, if not for a strong riverview side they probably would have won their first premiership since 1993, something that has seemed evasive to the scots boys in recent years, again will finish relatively high up but i don't think they are going to be good enough to win the whole thing. PREDICTION (5th)

Grammar - couldn't really tell you much about grammar, but they will as always provide some surprises, really though they are the only team that won't contend for the title next year. PREDICTION (7th)

Joeys - now this is the controversial part, nobody wants to hear that joeys will win the premiership, perhaps because they have won it so often, but 2/3's of the firsts are coming back next year and that is something that i don't think joeys has seen happen in many many years, on top of that over 1/2 of the seconds are coming back too, as well as a 16A's team that were still competitive despite not having six of their players who were playing 1s and 2s (not including pennisi who was in the firsts up until he was injured three weeks ago), there is a lot of real talent for 2012/2013, and a whole lot would have to wrong for joeys for them to not be considered a serious threat to the other GPS schools next year. PREDICTION (1st)

You've certainly got off to an early start for next year young Joey!!

I agree that GPS 2012 shapes as being a very good comp with Joeys, View, Kings, Scots and New all having the talent to challenge for the tiltle. Whilst I note what you've stated about returning players for Joeys and View both schools 16As haven't performed that well this year and that won't help next year.

Kings will no doubt be the big improvers via the addition of their 16As players but as far as I'm aware none of these boys have had any exposure to Opens rugby and as it's is quite a step up 2013 may be their year. I expect Scots to go better than your predicted 5th as they will still have a good nucleus from this year's team and their 16As were the next best to Kings this year. The passage of time, injuries and good luck will no doubt determine much more than we can this far out.

Im a little confused by a few posts here. To clarify, can someone tell me who won 2nd's, 3rd's and 16A's permierships in 2011?

the teams for 2012:

Newington - really weren't as impressive this year as they were last year, but then again last year was a hard act to follow with one of the most dominant schoolboy rugby teams i have ever seen, but next year they should have another strong team, but again they are losing key players in key positions (just like last year) and i think they will struggle at times. PREDICTION (3rd)
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Prediction - New on the 5th to start with (no pressure, no expectation). Just play each game to earn their point from bottom up.

Kings 3rds

Has anyone heard anything about any players coming through in the TKS 3rds?

Some schools are apparently having "development tours" overseas at the end of the year. As I understand that Kings might be doing this then any players "coming through" would likely be going on their tour. I think Scots are doing something similar.

The competition is so close amongst the top five teams that luck and injuries play a big part. New were lucky in 2010 that 13 players played all games and the other two only missed one game.

Upsets are a fact of life - Kings in 2010, New in 2011 and Scots pretty much every year failed to live up to the hype.

New will be competitive in 2012 just as they were in 2011. Whether or not they will have the "x" factor is another story. But any team that has Alaalatoa, Vea, Prior Lees, Morris, Lussick, Vlahos and Pople returning will be competitive,especially when you add the likes of Prassas, Ahosivi and Tepai.

2nds: Riverview
3rds: Riverview
16As: Kings

After watching Newington 1st play over the past few years I believe the school has a problem with its coaching,
This year the team has not combined to its potential . Even last year with all the talent the team had they didnt combine well until late in the Comp in the comp. It was only the individual talent that got them there!
As example this year in the trials Newington would have tried out 30 players in the 1sts and were still playing players in first trials that were obviously not going to make it up until the week before the comp started
Another example was the decision to play a trial against a leading QLD GPS team as their first match of the year. Several of the first boys were at Camp and the team at that stage had not done any contact training. The team got absolutely flogged and set a tone for the season

Additionally I believe the plays they do practice are one dimensional and easy to read- How can a team with the attacking talent they had this year go through a whole game and not score a try! too predictable
Finally I do not beleive they start the season fit enough , especially the big lads in the forwards . You would often see them, early in the season , Mouths wide open sucking it in . With such a big pack they need to ensure they are fit and mobile from teh start of the comp . It appears that it takes 4 weeks into a comp before they are fit enough

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Alaalatoa is in year 12 and will not be returning next year.

Alan is in Year 12 but I understand he is only 17 and can play next year if he decides to do Year 12 again.

New Coaching

The coaching ranks were greatly improved this year with the return of former Aussie Schoolboy and Waratah James Godfrey to the school. He is coaching the 2nds who will finish second this year - rather than 6th or 7th as they've done the last few years. I don't think coaching is the problem - more like big heads and bad attitude.

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His dad confirmed - Allan will be moving on.

How many View boys return next year from the 1st's and 2nd's?

I think you will see coaching has been the problem this year at Newington in the first only, Godfrey has been coaching the seconds but they are mainly year 12 boys. I think the main problem with Newington has been the halves, last year they got quick ball from bannon to appo and not to mention his darting runs from dummy half, if their half can improve they could be a force but we'll have to wait and see.

too many

thats the advantage of doing your HSC over 2 years

I couldn't agree with you more. Definitely a coaching problem. Newington college rugby has not been a happy family this year. Has to be the coaching staff when you have the cattle but can't produce. The best attacking back line can only score tries if they have the ball but sadly they didn't see much as the halfback was far too slow. Good luck for next year new you are going to need it if you stick to the same old same old.

The real problem for New this year was no Roach, Luani, Bannon or Apo. And the injuries to Ricky T (hooker) and McDonald (fly half) in the last two trials really finished their season. Going into the first game against View with a new hooker and a new halves combo was not ideal preparation. And there were some attitude problems with one player from the 2010 1sts playing in the 2nds for most of this season.