Qld Premier Rugby 2024

[The Engine Room]

It's a loooooong season and depth will be key. The Butcher Stripes have plenty and will be favourites in my book. The Melbourne Rebels (aka West Bulldogs) will be right there in Prems if someone picks up the airfares. The Magpies are my "smokey" this year. Discipline and fitness has always been an issue there but I think they are cooking up something good this year. Tiggers will struggle this year after a number of key players moving on. GPS always a question mark. Norths and Sunnybank will cause a few upsets and gets the locals excited. UQ will be in the 4 with some influx of new talent and some good depth. Can't wait for the weekend.

 

[Wilson]

Souths are the big movers for mine, they have recruited well bringing in Roibiluku and Vest with Sean Farrel also back from Italy and Toutai Kefu joining the coaching setup. They should still get Harry McLaughlin-Phillips for most of the season too. They're otherwise less exposed to any Rebels related chaos (Wests) or Wallabies selection off the back of Reds success (Brothers) than last years finalists.

Bond will be the other interesting one, if only to see what Heenan can do with them.

 

[The Engine Room]

Souths are the big movers for mine, they have recruited well bringing in Roibiluku and Vest with Sean Farrel also back from Italy and Toutai Kefu joining the coaching setup. They should still get Harry McLaughlin-Phillips for most of the season too. They're otherwise less exposed to any Rebels related chaos (Wests) or Wallabies selection off the back of Reds success (Brothers) than last years finalists.

Bond will be the other interesting one, if only to see what Heenan can do with them.

Can't get a read on Bond. Have not appeared much in pre-season chatter and seem to be bunkered down in the GC. The disappointment of last season's capitulation will hang heavy on them I think and their grade depth is very questionable (they can never field more than 3 grades). Henno will work his magic but I'm not convinced. What has been their player movements?? or any intell from the few trials??

 

[The Whisperer]

Can't get a read on Bond. Have not appeared much in pre-season chatter and seem to be bunkered down in the GC. The disappointment of last season's capitulation will hang heavy on them I think and their grade depth is very questionable (they can never field more than 3 grades). Henno will work his magic but I'm not convinced. What has been their player movements?? or any intell from the few trials??

I know only trials but have heard they’ve been starting 4 colts in 1st grade.

 

[LevitatingSocks]

Can't get a read on Bond. Have not appeared much in pre-season chatter and seem to be bunkered down in the GC. The disappointment of last season's capitulation will hang heavy on them I think and their grade depth is very questionable (they can never field more than 3 grades). Henno will work his magic but I'm not convinced. What has been their player movements?? or any intell from the few trials??

Is it the drive early on a Saturday that deters potential players?

They have a partnership with a university, TSS nearby, and a monopoly on QPR grade rugby in GC. It's not like they're Norths which has to compete with Brothers next door.

 

[MoneyBill685]

I think the stronghold of rugby league is a big part of it.

While yes union has TSS, at the same time you have powerhouse league schools like Palm Beach and Keebra. Then you have Tweed Seagulls and Burleigh Bears for club and then titans.

A lot of boys from TSS have chosen league for the opportunities and went straight from school to Mal Meninga cup at Burleigh in the hope of getting picked up by NRL clubs (if they hadn't already from school) and then will play for Bond if they don't get anything.

Family friends son was at TSS. Played union all his life, Made all the school union rep teams but didn't get any contracts. Decided to have a crack at league before the union season at bond and subsequently got NRL contract.

Unless you're a union player through and through and have desires on playing professional union, i guess the lure of opportunities from league is what gets players.

 

[RandwickDon]

Well we know where to find the parties on Saturday night now. All roads lead to Bottomley.

I haven't seen the social calendar yet for Easts home game after parties, but I'm sure it will be as hectic as usual.

Followed by the Story Bridge Hotel

 

[Wilson]

Red Heavies bringing back the collar this year, new title favourites:

UQ Rugby on Instagram: "Exciting to launch the new 2024 @iscsport Red Heavies 1st Grade jersey. It has a tapered fit in ISC Sport’s premier Feather fabric with mesh side panels for increased breathability. Raglan sleeves for ease of movement. Design

82 likes, 3 comments - redheavies on April 2, 2024: "Exciting to launch the new 2024 @iscsport Red Heavies 1st Grade jersey. It has a tapered fit in ISC Sport’s premier Feather fabric wit..."

www.instagram.com

 

[SouthernX]

Having a little internal chuckle to myself with this rain.

Wests had a fence around their paddock all summer and turned a dusty mud pit back into a world class green paddock.

if the downpour persists do we see QPR games rescheduled or do we see Wests say “F It… its game time!”

imagine a few training sessions around Brisbane tonight have been cancelled?

 

[Red Twist]

Having a little internal chuckle to myself with this rain.

Wests had a fence around their paddock all summer and turned a dusty mud pit back into a world class green paddock.

if the downpour persists do we see QPR games rescheduled or do we see Wests say “F It… its game time!”

imagine a few training sessions around Brisbane tonight have been cancelled?

Similar thoughts crossed my mind.

 

[The Engine Room]

Prems team lists are starting to come out. What are the forums thoughts? I was hoping we would see more Reds players for the important first round.

 

[Wilson]

Prems team lists are starting to come out. What are the forums thoughts? I was hoping we would see more Reds players for the important first round.

Yeah, a bit surprised at the lack of Reds names from the wider squad given its the bye round. Might be that most of them take the chance for a bit of leave over this weekend though (rather than being held back by the Reds).

 

[Red Twist]

Kalani Thomas named on the UQ bench.
Thought the hot tip was he'd moved back to The Nest?

 

[warhorse]

Kalani Thomas named on the UQ bench.
Thought the hot tip was he'd moved back to The Nest?

I was just about to ask the same question. Where do these stories come from?

 

[Red Twist]

I was just about to ask the same question. Where do these stories come from?

Good old Brisbane rumour mill. Haha

And apparently he was going to be getting PAID! From the Magpies hahaha

 

[Pieman]

I was just about to ask the same question. Where do these stories come from?

To quote how some of these rumours were prefixed:
“Word on the street…..”
“I heard someone say…..”

Never let the truth get in the way of an unfounded rumour!

 

[RugbyReg]

it does frustrate me that teams aren't listed yet. It's hard to build interest in a comp when the core element of 'who is playing' is unknown this late in the week.

 

[The Engine Room]

it does frustrate me that teams aren't listed yet. It's hard to build interest in a comp when the core element of 'who is playing' is unknown this late in the week.

I thought there was a QRU "rule/requirement" that Premier Grade, Womens and Colts 1 teams have to be named by Friday.

 

[SouthernX]

All team lists are in (excluding wests)

 

[RugbyReg]

And they are serial offenders. Through the grades.