QLD GPS 2024

[Six]

My early 2025 1st XV prediction…

Toowoomba Grammar School, to take home the chocolates…….

 

[Wayne Bennett 2ndMarriage]

Careful mate you might bring @Wing whisperer back from the dead with that one.

 

[The Occasional Fly Half]

TRC's GPS TEAM OF THE SEASON - PLEASE REPLY WITH YOUR THOUGHTS - CHEERS.

8. Oliver Nasser (GT)

Nice list TRC! I like the courage in putting Nasser in there at 8. I agree there is merit, although Roman is, of course, an excellent talent.

One of the great parts of this forum is looking at different merit lists. For instance, this list skips a few of the QLD GPS Australian Under 18 reps (Armistead and Johnson - NC, Uys - TSS), but there is a bit of 'apples and oranges' when you consider Tahs competition and age groups. That being said, the Reds 18s academy were missing a couple on that Aus Under 18s list as well from my observation.

I do spare a thought for Treyvon Pritchard. While there may be circumstances we are not across, I note he was on the provisional Australia team list from July, but not the final list. He seems to have played in ACGS's final game against TSS, so I doubt it is injury.

 

[TheRugbyCyclist]

Cheers mate - at end of the end of the day it’s all opinion and I think at the end of the day any of those 30 players on their day would have a go at the reds IMO. Would love to hear your/any other personal TOTS from the forum. PS - 2nd XV list coming soon.

 

[The Occasional Fly Half]

Good to see 5 Nudgee boys, 2 Southport boys and a State High kid in the squad...

From my count (not including players who are now outside schoolboy system and playing QLD Club rugby)

4 Nudgee (Armistead, Johnson, Conway, Grenfell)
3 TSS (Uys, Goldie, Moana)
1 BSHS (Langi)

Out of interest from AAGPS (NSW GPS System) credit to (@TheMaulester):

4 Scots
2 Riverview
2 Shore
2 Kings
2 Newington
1 Joeys

Re: comments on NRL Contracts (@Brian O’Driscoll and @Wicked Left Foot, the following have minor NRL contracts credit to (@TheMaulester and @The Ghost of Raelene ) from AAGPS forum:

Makasini
Lemoto
Bassingthwaite
Fittler

AAGPS Chat on Aus 18s

 

[TheRugbyCyclist]

Great info here mate - appreciate the research and interesting to see. I truly wonder how well NC and the rest of the GPS would stack up against these Sydney boys.

 

[The Occasional Fly Half]

If you include the non GPS schoolboys, the list is even more balanced towards Waratahs - and fair enough in my view. I watched quite a few of their headline games this year and they have some phenomenal talent. If you look at Reds v Tahs in the final of U16 2022 (the corresponding teams from two years ago in age), score was 32-3 in favour of the Tahs. To be fair, lots of different names in those squads as linked: Under 18 Squad 2024 and Under 16 QLD v Waratahs team lists 2022

 

[Sofit]

Nudgee beat the top rugby school the last two years and lost the year before that ie Barker who beat the GPS schools. I think NSW probably have more depth across more schools there though as Qld really only producing 2 or 3 top teams each year.

 

[Brian O’Driscoll]

From my count (not including players who are now outside schoolboy system and playing QLD Club rugby)

4 Nudgee (Armistead, Johnson, Conway, Grenfell)

Conway is in serious negotiations with the Rorters and Johnson with the Cowgirls.

 

[Wicked Left Foot]

Anyone know when the QLD u16s team is going to be released?

They have to play the ERC first 16-19 September. After this the QLD side is selected.

 

[backfencebandit]

Now that the season is done I would like to wrap up with my season awards and TOTY

MVP: Roman Siulepa (BSHS)
Best Forward: John Grenfell (NC)
Best Back: Nick Conway (NC)
Young Gun: Tai Taka (BBC)

1. Kingsley Uys (TSS)
2. John Grenfell (NC)
3. Elijah Su'a (BSHS)
4. Ed Kasperwicz (NC)
5. Eli Langi (BSHS)
6. Joey Grey (TGS)
7. Hugo Hart (NC)
8. Roman Siulepa (BSHS)
9. Tom Goldie (TSS)
10. Illy Baravilala (TGS)
11. Tai Taka (BBC)
12. Frank Howarth (BBC)
13. Kilarney Lavender (TSS)
14. Nick Conway (NC)
15. Jacob Johnson (NC)

16. Charlie Hollyman (GT)
17. Blaze Moana (TSS)
18. Oscar Donovan (BBC)
19. Trent Picot (BSHS)
20. Oliver Nasser (GT)
21. Sam Watson (NC)
22. Max Blanch (ACGS)
23. Amaziah Murgha (IGS)

 

[Newitonga]

Nudgee beat the top rugby school the last two years and lost the year before that ie Barker who beat the GPS schools. I think NSW probably have more depth across more schools there though as Qld really only producing 2 or 3 top teams each year.

Just so you know, Barker is not the best rugby school in NSW, by a fair bit. Anyone in NSW regardless of the school they're associated with can admit the best rugby school in NSW is Joeys. Barker is in Sydney's CAS competition and were the winners of that competition in 2022 and 2024 (in recent years), while the team that came last in Sydney's AAGPS this year (Riverview) beat the top CAS team Barker earlier in the season. That goes to show that Barker is at least about 6 teams (the whole AAGPS) behind being the best schoolboy team in NSW. The best team in 2024 from NSW would be Shore or St Augustine's, which both schools beat Joeys this year (Nudgee is the QLD equivalent to Joeys from Sydney, just likely not to the same level - St Augustine's beat shore by 4 points in a friendly during the school holidays, however Shore took it as a friendly when they were up by 10 odd at one point and put on a team that was more than half of 2nds players as reserves, while St Augustine's left their starting team on to try and make a comeback, which they did -

). The last time Barker beat a Sydney AAGPS school was Joeys in 2021. In 2022 Barker beat Nudgee, but in 2023 and 2024 Nudgee beat Barker. Also, at the start of the season Shore beat TSS 50-0 at Southport. Only if there was a competition were the AAGPS winner plays the CAS winner, then the winner of that game goes on to play the winner of QLD GPS.

 

[Six]

Now that the season is finished I would like to see everyone’s GPS White (1st, 4th, 6th, 8th) (+DC), and GPS’ Purple (2nd, 3rd, 5th, 7th, 9th)… This would mean White would consist of NC, TSS, TGS, GT and DC. And Purple would consist of BSHS, BBC, IGS, ACGS and BGS… Remember the rules for selection minimum of two from each school (Except Downlands, only one is required for selection). Let me know… I will be drafting mine shortly.

 

[TheRugbyCyclist]

Will add to the to do list - currently refining my 2nd XV TOTS.

 

[WHACKO_JACKO.GT]

GPS WHITE:

1. Kingsley Uys
2. John Grenfell (C)
3. Charlie Hollyman
4. Ed Kasporwicz
5. Charlie Cross
6. Tom Bailey
7. Hugo Hart
8. Oliver Nasser
9. Tom Goldie
10. Sam McGahan
11. Myles Rosemond
12. Kilarney Lavender
13. Saia Poese
14. Nicholas Conway
15. Jacob Johnson

GPS Purple:
1. Jean Paul-Sia
2. Harry Solofa
3. Cyrus Suniala
4. Eli Langi
5. Jye Crothers
6. Tyler Mayberry
7. Trent Picot
8. Roman Suilepa
9. Marley Ngatai
10. Tyson Walker
11. Amaziah Murgah
12. Max Blanch (C)
13. Finn Kendall
14. Frank Howarth
15. Treyvon Pritchard

 

[backfencebandit]

Team White: (No DLC not familiar with the team)
1. Kingsley Uys (TSS)
2. John Grenfell (NC)
3. Charlie Hollyman (GT)
4. Ed Kasperwicz (NC)
5. Bennett Armistead (NC)
6. Hugo Hart (NC)
7. Joey Grey (TGS)
8. Ollie Nasser (GT)
9. Tom Goldie (TSS)
10. Illy Baravilala (TGS)
11. Myles Rosemond (TGS)
12. Kilarney Lavender (TSS)
13. Saia Poese (GT)
14. Nick Conway (NC)
15. Jacob Johnson (NC)

Team Purple
1. Oscar Donovan (BBC)
2. Cyrus Suniala (BSHS)
3. Elijah Su'a (BSHS)
4. Jye Crothers (ACGS)
5. Eli Langi (BSHS)
6. Trent Picot (BSHS)
7. Lincoln Dalton (BGS)
8. Roman Siulepa (BSHS)
9. Joesph Post (IGS)
10. Zac Reader (BGS)
11.Tai Taka (BBC)
12. Frank Howarth (BBC)
13. Max Blanch (ACGS)
14. Amaziah Murgha (IGS)
15 Treyvon Pritchard (ACGS)

 

[beachrugby_45]

Agree with you mostly but I would have Tyson Walker over Illy Baravilala and Bennett Armistead over his teammate

 

[Sofit]

Just so you know, Barker is not the best rugby school in NSW, by a fair bit.

Barker is for sure the top team there if you spread it across the the last few years, Shore had one good season. Nudgee also saw off Kings comfortably each time they played on Ross and the top rugby schools who visited from New Zealand and England.

Joey's aren't a match for Nudgee these days and the Joey's Riverview day really second class as a spectacle versus a Premiership decider on Ross or a Nudgee Terrace match on Ross.

Shore looks like an AFL ground with its new cricket stlye stand set way back from the field and Joeys really need to invest in a better stand. It reminds me of the old stand at Tennyson and its completely past its use by date. The other side is also just standing ground and no stands on any other side of the field.

 

[Zoomer1]

Been a staunch GT man that you are whacko. I would love to get your take on the GT first 15 and the school as a whole performance this year. I know that internally (at GT) the first 15 was been spruiked as title contenders. Instead they finished with 2 wins (one against the team below on the ladder and the other against the team above them on the ladder).

As a school, in all age groups across 35 teams ranging from As to Es etc. they didn’t win one premiership. Now this is a trend that’s happened for a long period of time now. So it’s not a one off. Please also take into account that the GT f/a was - 110 for the season, with only BGS worse at - 183.

Surpely you can’t be happy with this? As many current parents I speak too, are unimpressed with the school. Would love to hear your views on what’s going on there?

 

[WHACKO_JACKO.GT]

Been a staunch GT man that you are whacko. I would love to get your take on the GT first 15 and the school as a whole performance this year. I know that internally (at GT) the first 15 was been spruiked as title contenders. Instead they finished with 2 wins (one against the team below on the ladder and the other against the team above them on the ladder).

As a school, in all age groups across 35 teams ranging from As to Es etc. they didn’t win one premiership. Now this is a trend that’s happened for a long period of time now. So it’s not a one off. Please also take into account that the GT f/a was - 110 for the season, with only BGS worse at - 183.

Surpely you can’t be happy with this? As many current parents I speak too, are unimpressed with the school. Would love to hear your views on what’s going on there?

Look @Zoomer1 i am not happy at all with GT's season. However, i have two arguments to discuss:

1. INJURIES
GT were extremely unlucky with injuries in key positions this year in the 1stXV. Now i know other schools had injuries too, but GT had the most by far. And with little depth in the opens program, GT cannot afford to have so many players missing time on the field. Walking around Tennyson last Saturday was like being in the middle of the Gallipoli landing.
McGahan (captain) missed round 6-9 with a fractured scapula and then tore his meniscus in the first 20 minutes when he returned in round 8 against BSHS.
Clifford (vice captain) missed rounds 5-9 with a major leg injury.
Nasser (vice captain) missed round 3 for personal reasons, and about 60 minutes of round 9 after injuring his ankle.
McGrath (second row) missed over half the season with a disc injury in his back.
Weir (prop) missed the final two rounds with a wrist injury.
Wines missed round 1 with a re-occurring shoulder injury.
That's 6 starters who were in and out of the team all year long, and the entire captaincy group had to be replaced. When injuries struck, GT were sitting at 2 wins and 1 loss, and finished the year with 5 straight losses. A team like NC could deal with this many injuries due to their amazing depth in the program.

2. NOT HAVING BOARDERS
GT are also at a great disadvantage as they do not have a boarding program at the school. Boys from the hunter valley and far NQ cannot go to Terrace unless the entire family wants to move down as well. Schools like NC, ACGS, TSS, TGS have a large boarder population and have the ability to recruit boys from these remote places that seem to be rugby breeding grounds.
BGS, GT, AND BSHS are the three schools without a boarding program in the GPS and you can see how they struggle to import players on scholarships. State high are a public school, so everyone can afford to go there. GT however, are not a public school and school fees are not affordable for everyone.

So, for a school that experienced a whole bunch of injuries in key positions, and without a boarding program to house players from regional areas, i think GT are doing alright. The amount of kids playing at the school, and the history of the school are the only things keeping GT rugby alive. But next year i expect better things from a team who has over half of their starters back for either a second or third year of 1stXV footy. I see them coming no lower than 3rd next year. MARK MY WORDS.

Cheers, WJ.