QLD Premier Rugby 2026

[eldiablo]

I hear its an existing UQ club man who has done time in the colts system

Nick Turnball?

 

[Red Runner]

So what is his name? If you have that much information I assume you know the name of the person.

It is an existing UQ club man who has done time in the colts system, was born in 1983, went to school at BBC and ate Weetabix for breakfast today. But I don't know his name.

I do know the name of the person who was the leading candidate, but was told in confidence. Don't want to break that confidence (or give away my identity). Suffice to say its not someone coming from another club - that was the intent of the minimal information provided.

 

[Bulldog]

That is the good to hear.
I like to hear that a club looks within to solve it’s issues - when you buy in the fix you just step away from the ethos of what you are as a club.
It is the traditional ethos of a club that can make it great again by turning your back on your club culture is a dangerous path to travel - a path that may take a club further down than lifting it up.
Sustained success comes from bottom up not top down.

 

[PhilClinton]

That is the good to hear.
I like to hear that a club looks within to solve it’s issues - when you buy in the fix you just step away from the ethos of what you are as a club.
It is the traditional ethos of a club that can make it great again by turning your back on your club culture is a dangerous path to travel - a path that may take a club further down than lifting it up.
Sustained success comes from bottom up not top down.

Both UQ and GPS promoted internally for their last coaching runs and both clubs have had the biggest falls from grace and have since sacked their coaches.

Hiring internally only works if the person being promoted is actually qualified and ready to step up. A lot of the time, it is viewed as the easy option.

Similar to the Reds for a number of years - the running joke was the coaching interview process wasn't extended past the carpark and that aligned with their lack of success.

 

[eldiablo]

That is the good to hear.
I like to hear that a club looks within to solve it’s issues - when you buy in the fix you just step away from the ethos of what you are as a club.
It is the traditional ethos of a club that can make it great again by turning your back on your club culture is a dangerous path to travel - a path that may take a club further down than lifting it up.
Sustained success comes from bottom up not top down.

Speaking from experience from what is happening at Wests?

 

[eldiablo]

It looks like Shane Arnold is returning (again) to GPS, this time as an assistant under Cockbain. And James Pritchard is back another year as an assistant. Handy appointments

 

[Elwee's Loo]

It looks like Shane Arnold is returning (again) to GPS, this time as an assistant under Cockbain. And James Pritchard is back another year as an assistant. Handy appointments

Who is doing Colts 1 at GPS?

 

[PhilClinton]

It looks like Shane Arnold is returning (again) to GPS, this time as an assistant under Cockbain. And James Pritchard is back another year as an assistant. Handy appointments

Get the tattoos now - GPS 2026 PREMIERS!

Nah in all seriousness I really rate Shane as a coach so having him involved is great.

 

[Bulldog]

Cockbain & Arnold are great fellas with great Rugby & GPS DNA.
It might not be a premiership in 2026 but GPS will be there or thereabouts next year and serious contenders come 2027-28.

 

[PhilClinton]

Looks like GPS are stepping up their movement into the 'modern game' and advertising 'Old Boys Scholarships' for Colts aged players to be supported in their playing careers.

Alongside the new academy, it sounds like a decent amount of financial investment being put in, at least through Colts aged group.

Will be interesting if Cockbain's comments around lack of players in key positions may extend that financial investment to a couple of ready to go 1st graders.

 

[hughjardon69]

It looks like Shane Arnold is returning (again) to GPS, this time as an assistant under Cockbain. And James Pritchard is back another year as an assistant. Handy appointments

WE ARE BACK BABY

 

[eldiablo]

Looks like GPS are stepping up their movement into the 'modern game' and advertising 'Old Boys Scholarships' for Colts aged players to be supported in their playing careers.

Alongside the new academy, it sounds like a decent amount of financial investment being put in, at least through Colts aged group.

Will be interesting if Cockbain's comments around lack of players in key positions may extend that financial investment to a couple of ready to go 1st graders.

I think they have been doing the scholarships since 2020/21, from memory. I vaguely remember them promoting Floyd Aubrey, etc, on it before they won the Colts premiership in 2021.

 

[PhilClinton]

I think they have been doing the scholarships since 2020/21, from memory. I vaguely remember them promoting Floyd Aubrey, etc, on it before they won the Colts premiership in 2021.

This is the first time I recall an open EOI for it.

Also I could be wrong but with Aubrey in the Reds system I’m not sure he would qualify for a scholarship. They may have been promoting his Reds academy status?

 

[eldiablo]

This is the first time I recall an open EOI for it.

Also I could be wrong but with Aubrey in the Reds system I’m not sure he would qualify for a scholarship. They may have been promoting his Reds academy status?

Just did a little deep dive and looks like they've been allowing applications for it since 2020. Not sure how well publicised it is though...

Re Floyd, I think he still got the scholarship - from memory it was in tandem with a club sponsor for a plumbing apprenticeship. I'm not sure being in a pro system rules people out anyway, but I think he was officially in the reds system a couple years out of school. not immediately. I wonder if Souths Magpies RL are giving him more than $4000 a year now? haha

Also, I remember watching Tom Kibble (pictured) play - he could have been anything. Anyone know what he's upto these days?

 

[PhilClinton]

Just did a little deep dive and looks like they've been allowing applications for it since 2020. Not sure how well publicised it is though...

Re Floyd, I think he still got the scholarship - from memory it was in tandem with a club sponsor for a plumbing apprenticeship. I'm not sure being in a pro system rules people out anyway, but I think he was officially in the reds system a couple years out of school. not immediately. I wonder if Souths Magpies RL are giving him more than $4000 a year now? haha

Also, I remember watching Tom Kibble (pictured) play - he could have been anything. Anyone know what he's upto these days?

View attachment 23451

There you go - I didn't realise it was always a thing.

Again happy to be corrected but I'm pretty sure Floyd was signed to the Reds directly from school. I recall an article in the Courier Mail potentially around the time saying he had attracted interest from rugby, league and AFL and it was a huge coup that rugby was able to retain him.

Kibble was unreal - surely he got some type of severe injury and that made him stop playing?

 

[Red Runner]

There you go - I didn't realise it was always a thing.

Again happy to be corrected but I'm pretty sure Floyd was signed to the Reds directly from school. I recall an article in the Courier Mail potentially around the time saying he had attracted interest from rugby, league and AFL and it was a huge coup that rugby was able to retain him.

Kibble was unreal - surely he got some type of severe injury and that made him stop playing?

yes he did