QLD Premier Rugby 2014

[Tigers Tale]

T12 - Wilkin has been outstanding. He is big for an 18y.o. and he's got a great motor - he just keeps going. In fact he probably makes a bigger impact in the last 20 minutes of a game when others start to tire.

Turner was great with the boot on Saturday - be interesting to see if the Tigers get him on Saturday for Uni or whether he goes back into the Reds side. He also attracted defenders whenever he came into the backline.

Blake Enever & UJ are out for the season.

Fattal & Moore are doing well for a young second row pairing. Fattal is aggressive and Moore can tackle.

Kirwan Sanday made his debut for Fiji on Saturday and I think Fiji have another test match this weekend.

Josef (former Sunnybank front rower) has been a very handy mid-season pick up given Paraka and Sanday's unavailability.

Toby White and Pettowa Paraka will hopefully come back into the side over the next few weeks.

Jack Mullins has been playing the house down in the #13 jersey, and Adam Deck has been going well @ #9.

Easts have won 4 in a row but clearly the next month (Uni, GPS, Bros & Sunnybank) will determine their 2014 destiny. They probably need to win all of these games but they may still be alive if they can win 3 of these 4.

"Here we come" maybe - but they are at least on the starting line.

 

[Tigers Tale]

Filth - I don't like this but for a second time in a week - I agree with you.

Easts do have the toughest run home, and have done so for a few years now.

If GPS falter that 2nd spots is not beyond Sunnybank or Brothers (Maybe a bridge too far for the Tigers though).

Souths are a good side and it is certainly still a race in 6 for the top 4, but you would think that the Magpies must beat Sunnybank this Saturday if they are any chance because they have their bye to come in round 16. The other top 6 sides have all had their second bye.

There is a big advantage in making the major semi and getting two bites at the cherry or going straight into the GF.

 

[Tigers Tale]

I am thinking that Saturday's game between Uni and Easts might be a preview of the 2014 GF??

This is just fishing - Filth, Jets, GPS supporters., Magpies??

No need to shout me down I know how bold this statement is given all of the water that needs to pass under the bridge. But if come 10 August 2014 I am proved right I will look like a rugby genius, and maybe Bond Uni can appoint me as an analyst!!!

 

[unsub god]

Suspect Greene's welcome back to Sylvan Rd will be fairly toastie ! It's old Boys day !!!

 

[Tigers Tale]

Enjoy - Mr Greene!!

 

[Refabit]

Bond uni looking for a full time coach next year and they should be able to attract some high caliber candidates as the package is worth $200 grand according to the bond president.

Its a troll.

 

[Jets]

I am thinking that Saturday's game between Uni and Easts might be a preview of the 2014 GF??

This is just fishing - Filth, Jets, GPS supporters., Magpies??

No need to shout me down I know how bold this statement is given all of the water that needs to pass under the bridge. But if come 10 August 2014 I am proved right I will look like a rugby genius, and maybe Bond Uni can appoint me as an analyst!!!

If the Tigers get a win this Saturday it might be hard to argue with you TT. I must say Premier rugby is providing a bit more interest than Super Rugby and the French tests. It's only topped by my weekly fix of Under 9 rugby but that has taken a back seat now during school holidays.

 

[FilthRugby]

I gather I'm the only one who thinks Brothers will make the final?

 

[Ironingman]

I gather I'm the only one who thinks Brothers will make the final?

I am with you Filth!

 

[Red Heavy]

Its a troll.

? Are you saying I am a troll or what brailsford (bond vice chancellor) said in his post game speech was a troll?
I was there on Saturday and can guarantee the above info was said to all who attended the post match function.
I would also like to say he said it was a 200k package so you would assume house/car/tuition or something similar would be involved not just cash.

 

[Red Heavy]

Uni have easts, GPS, souths and brothers for there last 4 games... I would say that would be up there for the hardest road home.

 

[TheBigDog]

I don't think any of the teams in finals contention really have an easy run home. For example GPS last 5 games are Norths, Easts, Uni, Brothers and Sbank, I doubt Shane Arnold is sitting at home thanking the scheduling gods for that one.

 

[Crusher]

? Are you saying I am a troll or what brailsford (bond vice chancellor) said in his post game speech was a troll?
I was there on Saturday and can guarantee the above info was said to all who attended the post match function.
I would also like to say he said it was a 200k package so you would assume house/car/tuition or something similar would be involved not just cash.

Refabit I can confirm that Red Heavy's statement is complete and utter TRUTH! Word is they are seeking a coach with minimum super rugby or overseas coaching experience at a high performance level. I would assume most of the Premier coaches would be interested. I understand Tiny Nowlan is not seeking reappointment and his assistants are considered far too green for such an appointment and the university has some ambitious plans to become a rugby powerhouse not too dissimilar to UQ and Syd Uni but agree with many that the investment is probably a little shortsighted and rushed. I will give it to the VC though, he is putting his money where his mouth is.

 

[Tigers Tale]

Big Dog - I think we have a winner for "the hardest run in".

Interesting that GPS have followed Easts through the draw this year - essentially playing the team Easts played the week before.

If Easts or GPS come through the next 4/5 weeks in good shape it will put them in good head space going into the finals.

There must be a level of confidence at Yoku Rd at present I think GPS are looking good to go one better than last year.

I'm looking forward to the clash on Saturday week at Bottomley.

 

[Tigers Tale]

Refabit - you seem to have an issue with facing the facts/truth from time to time.

Good luck to Bond Uni for taking steps to improve their results on the park - well done to them because if they don't change they'll keep getting the same results.

If they can get back to being successful then kids on the Gold Coast will aspire to playing rugby for Bond Uni, and make retention of players easier. It would be great to see a true pathway from Bond into the Reds.

They'll have to be careful in their selection because they don't want a disgruntled former professional coach who hasn't succeeded and is on the way out, they'd be better to put on someone who is on the way up (e.g. Arnold, Matheson, etc) or a seasoned QPR coach who is about building a strong culture (e.g. Heenan, Broad, Richards, etc).

The Breakers golden era was built on the back of a true rugby man in Grant Batty - one who new a thing or two about rugby, rugby culture and man management. They need a revered figure like Batts who'll get the players buy in and the supporters love and affection.

You only have to see Batts walk into the Breakers/Bond on a game day to see what a wonderful influence he had on the place.

It is really a coach who can build strong club structures because it will take time it won't happen over night for Bond but it will happen and when they hit their straps look out rest of the comp, because they'll offer scholarship and employment opportunities better than anyone in the comp.

 

[Refabit]

? Are you saying I am a troll or what brailsford (bond vice chancellor) said in his post game speech was a troll?
I was there on Saturday and can guarantee the above info was said to all who attended the post match function.
I would also like to say he said it was a 200k package so you would assume house/car/tuition or something similar would be involved not just cash.

Ok I take it back.
But I would be astounded if it eventuates.

 

[FilthRugby]

Love seeing Bond take a big step to improve their current predicament.
"When Wests and Norths are doing well, the comps doing well."
I think that also completely applies with Bond as well.

 

[Crusher]

Love seeing Bond take a big step to improve their current predicament.
"When Wests and Norths are doing well, the comps doing well."
I think that also completely applies with Bond as well.

Filth, I think all the teams being strong adds some sort of value to our product and at the moment we need as much publicity as we can get to promote our product here locally on the Coast. We have a noticed a significant drop off in our playing numbers and some of our age group teams are having to travel to Brisbane to play as local clubs struggle to gain a foothold in the local sports market. We are close enough but not close enough to have a significant presence across the local landscape if that makes sense. The Reds are based in Brisbane and we are constantly jammed with news about the Suns and the Titans and even GC United got more press than the Breakers. Probably also didn't help the recruitment process at the Breakers with all the negative press or depressing score lines so I for one am happy my old club has some financial clout to try and establish a strong program that will hopefully not only entice players to the club but some top notch coaching personnel as well. Still a million and one other things that need fixing but this is a good start. Money could be used better but at least they have some choices they can make down at Bond now.

 

[Crusher]

Refabit - you seem to have an issue with facing the facts/truth from time to time.

Good luck to Bond Uni for taking steps to improve their results on the park - well done to them because if they don't change they'll keep getting the same results.

If they can get back to being successful then kids on the Gold Coast will aspire to playing rugby for Bond Uni, and make retention of players easier. It would be great to see a true pathway from Bond into the Reds.

They'll have to be careful in their selection because they don't want a disgruntled former professional coach who hasn't succeeded and is on the way out, they'd be better to put on someone who is on the way up (e.g. Arnold, Matheson, etc) or a seasoned QPR coach who is about building a strong culture (e.g. Heenan, Broad, Richards, etc).

The Breakers golden era was built on the back of a true rugby man in Grant Batty - one who new a thing or two about rugby, rugby culture and man management. They need a revered figure like Batts who'll get the players buy in and the supporters love and affection.

You only have to see Batts walk into the Breakers/Bond on a game day to see what a wonderful influence he had on the place.

It is really a coach who can build strong club structures because it will take time it won't happen over night for Bond but it will happen and when they hit their straps look out rest of the comp, because they'll offer scholarship and employment opportunities better than anyone in the comp.

TT, I know you can see the positives in this as it will just continue to strengthen the recruitment process for the Tigers! hahahah sorry couldn't help myself.
As I said to Filth, rugby on the Coast needs a real kickstart and a pathway that is based locally. I don't hold it one bit against the players that have left as many of them have progressed on to bigger and better things and so if Bond are going to entice local players to hang around or come back, they will need to dig a little deeper to find out why their local talent would prefer to drive north up the M1 to play for other clubs. I think the hierarchy down there have their heads buried in the sand too much and are not really willing to accept responsibility for some poor and errant decision making along the way over the course of the past 8 years and the environment has long been described as toxic, particularly by those who have moved on. I find it unbelievable that we did not do enough to hold onto talent such as the Tapuai's, JB, the Cox's, Kimmo, Sef Faagase, Sam Fattal etc etc the list goes on and will continue to do so til we learn from the Souths, Tigers, GPS, UQ's of this world who have openly welcomed our players that we have had no idea how to look after.

 

[FilthRugby]

Don't worry Crusher, Brothers will show this year that you don't need to rely on representative players to win a Premiership.