QLD Premier Rugby 2025

[Bulldog]

Interesting question - I would really like to see the attrition rate of the blokes who start playing colts at Uni?

As a snapshot, I had a look at the Premier Grade Team lists from Saturday to see who was an ex-University Colt, and also who was an ex-West's Colt playing elsewhere; Sunnybank - Taine Riori (Ex-Wests Colt); Norths - Harrison Swane (Ex-UQ Colt); Easts - Angus Wagner & Dougal Grey; (Ex-UQ Colt) Alex Smit (Ex Wests Colt) ; Bond Uni - Matt Englebrecht (Ex-UQ Colts); Brothers - Jake Sargood (Ex-Wests Colt) - Wests - Isaac Henry, Jack Spencer and Moses Sorovi (Ex UQ Colts) -UQ themselves had Lachie Pheely, Dougal Perrers and Flynn McDermott who are all former UQ colts players coming through their system playing for them; Wests had Edan Zuapa, Zac Hough and Jack Spencer as colts who have come through the Wests Colts program. So it seems from this small sample, UQ has lost more colts talent than Wests but both sides had only 3 former colts in the Premier grade teams on the weekend.

I don’t think Angus Wagner played colts I think he may have headed to Force straight from Churchie - he played juniors at Easts whilst boarding at Churchie.
Happy to be corrected on this one.

 

[hdnmstsnr]

I would be surprised if anyone went to Japan in the next few weeks as the season over there is almost done

Japan runs a 2nd tier regional comp in the latter half of our season, with decent remuneration ($80-$120k) for international players. The comp also acts as a showcase/foot in the door for top-tier season 2026 hopefuls.

 

[MoneyBill685]

I would have loved to see what the odds were paying before the start of the season, having both Souths and Norths in the top four and Wests in 6th after 5 rounds. It's far too early to call that Wests are going to struggle to make the finals, but for all the influx of new coaches and players, the excellent facilities, etc, they still have not found a way to win the tight ones like they used to. Does anyone have any insights as to why? I have no idea who is getting paid what, or how much has been invested in the rugby program, but it seems money doesn't guarantee success. One would expect Wests to defeat Sunnybank next weekend, but if they don't, there will be some serious gnashing of teeth at Sylvan Road.

Wests were paying around $2.60 on Ladbrokes before the season to win the comp.

 

[PhilClinton]

Japan runs a 2nd tier regional comp in the latter half of our season, with decent remuneration ($80-$120k) for international players. The comp also acts as a showcase/foot in the door for top-tier season 2026 hopefuls.

Is that still happening? I thought that got changed when the 'League One' was launched a few years ago now and they shifted to a Division 1 and 2 model instead of multiple tiers.

 

[LevitatingSocks]

My point about attrition is not so much about the extremely talented but about the players that disappears between colts and grades and is lost to the game.
I think it fair to say that Uni’s connection to UQ and the University Colleges gives them a leg up in terms of recruiting lads straight from school - I don’t begrudge them for that - but you would anticipate that those large playing numbers would filter through to grades or do they quit when they finish their studies at UQ.

My gut feeling is the proximity to the colleges and social component of being at the university keeps a lot of blokes playing who otherwise wouldn't. More a case of postponing the inevitable loss of players from after high school to after Colts.

 

[SouthernX]

What is Wests doing - they get the pick of the Melbourne Rebels then they try to squeeze 100 young men into 2 poorly kept fields and then don’t even give them mates rates at Zambrero. I would really like to see the attrition rate of the blokes who start playing at Wests.
I have no sympathy for Wests which is a club that has no soul.

levitating socks from the top rope

what club do you support so I can take the kid gloves off lol.

one good thing going for wests is their reserve and colts outfit. Shout out to wests 2nd grade who beat brothers (benchmark of reserve grade - and they barely ever lose)

 

[Interested Viewer]

levitating socks from the top rope

what club do you support so I can take the kid gloves off lol.

one good thing going for wests is their reserve and colts outfit. Shout out to wests 2nd grade who beat brothers (benchmark of reserve grade - and they barely ever lose)

Agreed Wests reserve grade are top of the log at the moment if Prems continue to struggle it could cause issues as players in reggies are not getting an opportunity in 1st grade.

Winning is the best detergent

 

[oldrugbytragic]

What is Uni doing - they get the pick of the GPS school graduates then they try to squeeze 100 young men into 4 Colts teams and then don’t bring them through to grades. I would really like to see the attrition rate of the blokes who start playing colts at Uni.
I have no sympathy for Uni which is a club that has no soul.

An interesting comment to say a club has no soul.

I find that most uni players have a real love for their club and although having a tough year, I do think they have a great club culture. In the past they have done world cup and other overseas trips which have had up to 50 or 60 players from across grades and colts on them. Doesn't seem like a club without a soul.

I think Uni would have the most transient playing group due to a number of factors.

1. They up until recently haven't had a juniors program. They have performed incredibly well for a club without one for many years.
2. Their colts have a lot of young people from not only overseas but also country areas playing while at university there.
3. There is no secret they help with Uni scholarships which attract players and boosts their colts numbers at times.

I think it is incredibly rich to claim Uni have no soul from a supporter of a team flying players into the club on weekends at the expense of those training week to week. The real test of a club's soul is how many of those players will still be there when the cash stops flowing. Wests have won 3 premierships in the past 40 years and Uni have won 9. Not bad for a soulless club.

Interesting question - I would really like to see the attrition rate of the blokes who start playing colts at Uni?

As a snapshot, I had a look at the Premier Grade Team lists from Saturday to see who was an ex-University Colt, and also who was an ex-West's Colt playing elsewhere; Sunnybank - Taine Riori (Ex-Wests Colt); Norths - Harrison Swane (Ex-UQ Colt); Easts - Angus Wagner & Dougal Grey; (Ex-UQ Colt) Alex Smit (Ex Wests Colt) ; Bond Uni - Matt Englebrecht (Ex-UQ Colts); Brothers - Jake Sargood (Ex-Wests Colt) - Wests - Isaac Henry, Jack Spencer and Moses Sorovi (Ex UQ Colts) -UQ themselves had Lachie Pheely, Dougal Perrers and Flynn McDermott who are all former UQ colts players coming through their system playing for them; Wests had Edan Zuapa, Zac Hough and Jack Spencer as colts who have come through the Wests Colts program. So it seems from this small sample, UQ has lost more colts talent than Wests but both sides had only 3 former colts in the Premier grade teams on the weekend.

I think a more interesting or telling tale here would be who in each of their premier grade teams did come through their colts system. More telling for Wests would be who was a junior. One thing I certainly admire about Brothers is how many of their premier grade team played colts and juniors there. There may be a secret there. Money doesn't buy premierships.

I think that there are a lot of lessons from clubs that fill their club with stars only to be hurting years later. Although collecting a trophy in 2015, Souths are still rebuilding from the Piccone era. Sunnybank did have a heap of money but from my understanding it dried up and they have struggled since. When a club brings in a host of stars it can have a long term effect once they leave. This also has an affect on the club's long term players that are passed over.

 

[LevitatingSocks]

levitating socks from the top rope

what club do you support so I can take the kid gloves off lol.

one good thing going for wests is their reserve and colts outfit. Shout out to wests 2nd grade who beat brothers (benchmark of reserve grade - and they barely ever lose)

Uni like every other unoriginal lower grades transplant in brisbane.

 

[PhilClinton]

I'm no Uni loyalist but they've quite clearly had a strong brand and 'soul' for a number of years.

Steve Moore didn't lace up the boots for a swansong season for anything except love for the club.

There is no doubt that Mick Heenan was a big part of that 'brand' for Uni. I think he had been coaching there since what, 2008? Losing him is going to have cultural shifts aside from what happens on the field.

 

[Bulldog]

One wonders whether GPS every stop to consider what might have been if they hadn’t pushed Heeno out the door??

 

[Bulldog]

Wests might be top of table in reserve (22 - 4W& 1L) but Easts are 2nd (18 points 4W & the bye).
The issue of player movement between 1s & 2s at Wests is valid but unlikely - I think.