NSW AAGPS 2025 (banter and commentary)

[The Observer]

Sidwell, Squire, Green, Hawke, Bremner? Murdoch early on. Is that it. I predict only 4 out of those 6 will play 1s next year.

Be interested to see a predicted starting XV from you then?

 

[Meaty Michael]

Joeys will have 5 back from 1s, 6 back from 2s, 9 back from 3s.

Do you have names?

 

[ruckandscrums]

Do you have names??

Returning Joeys Players from 1s, 2s, 3s

1XV:
1. Bryn Whittaker
6. Finn Leary
10. Finn Hannon
13. Julian Minto

2XV:
1. Tom Chan
4. Noah Chrara
7. Eddie Garcia
9. Lachlan Wallace
11. Henry Troy
12. Sam Jorgensen
12. Will Seve
13. Riley Bourne

3XV:
2. Ari Geach
4. Henry Campbell
5. Ashton Brown
6. Doug Raper
8. Sam Jones
10. Tom Bayada
11. Harry O'Hara
13. Henry Gardiner
14. Will Cornish
15. Lachlan Boyd

 

[Backintheolddays]

Interested to see how Hannon develops. Was borderline ready this year but huge step for any 15yo to play GPS firsts, let alone at 10.
Has been outstanding at age level and on the athletic track. Now he needs to earn his chess grandmaster stripes. Love an attacking threat at 10, if he can balance his game management and not overplay his hand he has tremendous potential.

 

[Joker]

Thread had a large hiatus and we got lucky to get it back. Killed off a lot of posts during that time and the garbage in the return.

Yes I agree

We had to endure a horrendous attack of CAS trolls who lost their thread to Cyclopath
I know that this thread had a good heart and sense of humour. This is why we keep going and thriving
The reason why our posts are down I believe it is due to schools blocking us.
Over the years we have had the annual Riverview ambush. This year didn't happen as it was blocked.
Scots, Riverview, Joeys and Kings have all blocked it permanently at the school.
It really is students who use another device do we get some content. Shore student supporters have dominated this season.

Anyway this season was the hardest on record. We are fortunate to have moderators who are more ruthless than me.,
In the coming days I will post up my final thoughts on season 2025.
Anyway....back to bed.

 

[The Chairman]

Word is Shore have blocked it now as well.

 

[The Chairman]

Returning Joeys Players from 1s, 2s, 3s

12. Sam Jorgensen

Australian rugby jumping up and down as they see there is another Jorgensen from Joeys on the way...

 

[Eyes and Ears]

Not having a dig against any one referee but when was the last time a penalty was given for not putting the ball into the middle of a scrum? Has the law actually been rescinded? One of the good things about rugby was the possibility of a turnover of possession and the sudden rearrangement of back lines! Unpredictably still exists (a little) in line outs but scrums are no more than a push fest. Unpredictability was a great leveller and if I may say so it’s demise harms the game.

The scrum has been a contest of power not a contest of striking for a long time now.

 

[Choc&blue]

The scrum has been a contest of power not a contest of striking for a long time now.

You must have been a backline player with no idea of the ‘fine arts” of scrums. Current scrum refereeing deskills hookers. Maybe their title should be changed to “throwers in”. Contest of power I think not if scums can’t advance as we used to enjoy.

 

[Choc&blue]

The scrum has been a contest of power not a contest of striking for a long time now.

You overlook the benefit of unpredictably in play. Just look at scrums in mungo ball. A waste of time. 5 barges then kick down the field over and over and over. Boring.oh so boring. Rugby needs unpredictability. AFL has it in spades. Rugby must find ways to increase the unpredictable and get over supersized superfit superdrilled teams with too many reserves dominating intuition and spontaneity.

 

[Eyes and Ears]

You must have been a backline player with no idea of the ‘fine arts” of scrums. Current scrum refereeing deskills hookers. Maybe their title should be changed to “throwers in”. Contest of power I think not if scums can’t advance as we used to enjoy.

I didn't give an opinion on what I think it should be. I was just letting you know that it has been the referee approach for a long time and this is supported by the players and coaches who have influence over this at the governing levels of the game.

However rugby has kept the scrum as a very relevant part of the game (unlike mungo) even without straight feeds. Although I would argue that the lineout has become the even more critical restart.

 

[Choc&blue]

I didn't give an opinion on what I think it should be. I was just letting you know that it has been the referee approach for a long time and this is supported by the players and coaches who have influence over this at the governing levels of the game.

However rugby has kept the scrum as a very relevant part of the game (unlike mungo) even without straight feeds. Although I would argue that the lineout has become the even more critical restart.

Just because refs haven’t been enforcing the feed in rule”for a long time” doesn’t mean it is the best. why are lineouts “more critical?”.At least with scrums 8 players are in the same area And there is a bit more room for prancing backs.
With short lineouts the backline is full of forwards just waiting to get offside and cramping the ball runners’ space. Perhaps this is why tries off set piece play is almost a thing of the past With kicks to the far winger now a frequent tactic.

 

[TonyTackle01]

Be interested to see a predicted starting XV from you then?

A bit hard considering it’s not even 2026 yet.

 

[Where's the beef]

O'connor's rise up the ranks and year in the 3XV at may have highlighted a coaching issue at Joeys. O'Connor has improved this year however was still heads and shoulders above the 3XV comp standard last year. Should've at least been in the 2XV - was put down to politics and coach's opinions.

I disagree. He was a conundrum at Joeys I would suggest. He is big, fast, all great attributes, but also was rarely straight and his speed is built rather than pure acceleration. He played really well when he had time to get going and space. He always went the outside, cramping the 15 and the wing. To be fair Gough for most of the year was little better.

His last game and Goughs were their best of the season.

I think when they moved O'connor to 14 it was better.

 

[The Ghost of Raelene]

I would like to hear around the forum for people's ideas of performances of the season.

I have one in mind but would be keen to hear some others.

Which player had the best individual performance of the season in your view?

I have one from a SIC point of View that got under the skin of some people at the time but you have to say it was an all timer in a huge moment.

Dempsey v Shore @ View. He was EVERYWHERE in that game and made his presence known. Not just the try chasing down the kick but physically dominating out there and being so active he creates overlaps by always being in support. That game was as big a banana peel as I can remember and it took guys like this to own it.

 

[The Ghost of Raelene]

I disagree. He was a conundrum at Joeys I would suggest. He is big, fast, all great attributes, but also was rarely straight and his speed is built rather than pure acceleration. He played really well when he had time to get going and space. He always went the outside, cramping the 15 and the wing. To be fair Gough for most of the year was little better.

His last game and Goughs were their best of the season.

I think when they moved O'connor to 14 it was better.

Simplifying it down can be the best thing. Remember Rob Horne? He was a decent Centre and a very very good one coming through the ranks but he then excelled at Test level when put on the Wing by Cheika. Simplify the plan and use the attributes available.

 

[Agent]

Returning Joeys Players from 1s, 2s, 3s

1XV:
1. Bryn Whittaker
6. Finn Leary
10. Finn Hannon
13. Julian Minto

2XV:
1. Tom Chan
4. Noah Chrara
7. Eddie Garcia
9. Lachlan Wallace
11. Henry Troy
12. Sam Jorgensen
12. Will Seve
13. Riley Bourne

3XV:
2. Ari Geach
4. Henry Campbell
5. Ashton Brown
6. Doug Raper
8. Sam Jones
10. Tom Bayada
11. Harry O'Hara
13. Henry Gardiner
14. Will Cornish
15. Lachlan Boyd

Can someone give an insight into the returning players from this years Shore 1s, 2s, and 3s?

 

[Mungo1866]

I didn't give an opinion on what I think it should be. I was just letting you know that it has been the referee approach for a long time and this is supported by the players and coaches who have influence over this at the governing levels of the game.

However rugby has kept the scrum as a very relevant part of the game (unlike mungo) even without straight feeds. Although I would argue that the lineout has become the even more critical restart.

It always puzzles me (and I reffed for nearly 20 years) why a line out throw, which is more difficult, can be pinged for not straight but a scrum feed goes under second row feet with no issue.
I can still remember rugby league scrums that were ferocious contests now a non- event I’d hate rugby to go the same way, it should always be a contest.

 

[twister29]

Shore returning
1XV
2. Baxter (Year 10)
4. Sidwell
7. Leahy
13. Wendt
Injured: Hamilton (prop)

2XV
3. Green
5. Joyce
6. Mackellar
7. Squire
8. Murdoch Tilmouth
9. Strachan
11. Bremner
12. Robertson
13. Powell
14. Maclennan
15. Quayle

3XV
2. Scammel
8. Longes
10. Glasson
13. Hawke
14. Shoemark

HMs (Started or played considerable time)
2nd row Lyne (year 11)
6. Yates
6. Le Maître
8. Fulton
12. Keeler
14. Hammilford

Name not mentioned is Harrison Brunker who was one of several selected for U16 Presidents 1XV but still playing in u16 comp.

 

[twister29]

@The_Lock Not very Familiar with Riverview players but the 2025 View 1st XV might run something like this.

1. G.Tancred
2. D.Osbourne
3. T.Naughton
4. T.Johnston - W.Spora
5. A.Cabot
6. I.Perkins
7. H.Dempsey
8. C.Conna
9. G.Grover (captain)
10. F. Garling
11. L. Tucker
12. A. Mgrath
13. H.Davis
14. G.Feild - C.Lenehan
15. B. Folkes
Just my Thoughts, not very familiar with the View Yr 10s, or the View boys In general, Cheers.

Looking back at some of these predictions, couple of good ones getting around…