The 2014 GPS rugby season, which starts on Saturday, will be a battlefield, since many teams have made claims during their pre-season.
Riverview has been talked up, as have Scots, however the pre-season form of a number of teams suggests that current predictions may be upset after the first round.
I expect this years’ GPS season to boast some of the best individual rugby players in the country, and that some of the 1st XVs will be among the best in the country.
All the teams have strengths to either claim the title or stop others from doing so.
Joeys
Joeys had a poor 2013 season finishing fifth though they were hit by injuries and had to use 32 players in the 1st XV. Their outside backs missed too many tackles and they left games slip away, which is not like them.
They have plenty of boys backing up from last year’s 1sts, and the 2nds who dominated their competition.
After a combined 30 years in charge 2013 coaches Br Anthony Boyd and Mr. Jeremy Ticehurst are stepping down. Greg Thompson and Tim Anderson, who won three 2nd XV competitions four years, replace them.
Trials
They beat Knox, St. Patricks and Oakhill without their Athletic squad members but they lacked cohesion and good combination against Newington and lost. I think their problem last week was partly due to not knowing who should be in their 1st XV side.
This is a common dilemma at Joeys because although they always have good depth it doesn’t mean they have a lot of stars who are obviously Ones players.
Their forwards struggled against the bigger Newington pack last week and therefore couldn’t lay a decent foundation for their backs. Their tries came from individual efforts rather than good teamwork.
Their goal kicking was first-rate though.
Players to watch
Koim Wingti, who will captain from the no.8 position to start the season, is just as comfortable in the second row, being athletic for backrow spot and hard enough for the tight five. The destructive ball runner will have a huge impact this year especially if he can pick up his work rate.
Willo McDonnell – After a strong season last year Willo has impressed in all four trials to date. One of the toughest players going around, he provides the whole package at 12 with strong ball running, solid defence and excellent playmaking skills.
Tom Horton – Coming from last years 16As, the LHP has been Joeys’ best during trials. Very mobile, he is one of the intimidators of the pack and will surprise a lot of opponents this year.
Prediction
After only two weeks training with all their players available I expect Joeys to find their feet. They will sort out their best team and benefit from their depth so long as they don’t have a butchers’ bill. They won’t head the top two but they will be the best of the rest. Third
Kings
Last year Kings started slowly but finished better than expected after winning their last two rounds and ending up fourth. In the process they beat Riverview and Joeys. They were confident about 2014 because their 16As side were joint premiers.
Kings toured the UK at the end of last year but it is uncertain how that will benefit them many months down the track.
Trials
Their loss to Shore 10–17 recently was a set-back to their expectations but “it was only a trial”. Observers mentioned on the one hand, that their forwards looked stronger than those of Shore, but on the other, that some of their players looked out of condition. They also mentioned backs running laterally and a lack of variety in attack.
Players to watch
George Lehmann was a big improver last year and one of the best second rowers in the GPS. He was a damaging ball runner and played hard at the breakdown.
James Kane may be the best fullback in the GPS this year. If they are smart Kings will use his booming boot to have opponents playing in their half of the field.
Prediction
Kings to cause some cheek again but not be favourites. To finish the same as last year. Fourth
Newington
Last year Newington were joint premiers which happily coincided with their 150th anniversary. They had many strong players, three of whom are already making their mark in the rugby league code.
Trials
Newington lost to Knox and had a narrow win against a flat Joeys’ team.
The class of 2014 has not been strong coming through the age groups but they will have a big pack again this year with a tall second row. They will lack depth, especially in the backs but will have some exceptional individuals.
Newington will have about five players returning from last year
Players to watch
Australia Schools’ player Vunipola Fifita will be a standout. The LHP is a damaging player though mobile.
Though his scrummaging may be too valuable for him to leave the front row it is rumoured he may be moving to the back row. He played on the blindside flank for part of a trial but his best backrow position could be no.8
Under 17 back three players Sepesa Loga-Tarogi and Simon Kennewell both impressed last year with their elusiveness and speed, and will likely be more lethal this year.
Prediction
The excellent individual players will not make up for the lack of depth and as inevitable injuries occur they will be affected. Also their goal kicking does not look promising. Fifth
Riverview
Riverview came third last year which was better than expected from a young team but got crushed by Scots and Newington who were like professional sides.
Trials
They have had a full pre-season program. Trialing without their Athletics squad members they beat Marist (Canberra), and St. Edmunds (Canberra) but lost to St. Stanislaus (Bathurst).
With their athletes back they beat the powerhouse of the ISA, St. Augustines (Brookvale), though they had episodes of poor play.
Riverview will pose as many threats in tight running as they will wider out but the set piece work is somewhat weak.
Players to watch
Centre Henry Hutchison will be worth the price of admission if you had to pay to watch schools rugby. His ability to read the play like he has a script for it, and to zip through gaps that don’t appear to be there, is astonishing. He is not a big player, but is nuggety and can tackle big blokes front on, and seems to like it.
Oh, did I mention that he broke a 17 year-0ld record by running 10.79 seconds for 100 metres in the GPS Athletics Championships recently?
Second rower Beau Pettersen is a hard running lock who can burst through tackles or make ground in the loose.
Conor Hurley a winger or fullback is a lethal runner and can drag tacklers over the try-line.
Prediction
Riverview to beat Scots. First
Scots
Last year Scots were joint premiers with Newington. Although their sporting recruitment policies were brought to account by other GPS schools it had nothing to do with the what their boys did on on the rugby field, which was brilliant.
Trials
Scots have been on a successful tour of the RSA winning two of their games in a tournament over Easter and losing the third when they started their lesser players in the first half and swapped them at half-time
Since then they gave a drubbing to The Southport School, and last week they had a light hit-out against Manly Colts 3rds.
They will be the best prepared team in the GPS. They have good balance between the backs and forwards and have a good core of returning players. However they will play about half-a-dozen Year 11 boys and this is a tad higher than the norm.
Players to watch
Angus Crichton will be in his third year in the Ones, and this year the no. 8 could feature in the centres. Wherever he plays he will cause headaches for defenders.
Guy Porter moves from centre to fullback where he can display his superb ball carrying and solid defence
Flanker Taylor Deer has a high level of fitness which supports his high work rate and participation in the breakdown and tight play.
Toby Rudolf has been a revelation moving from the second row to prop. He is strong, mobile and a good leader, who will surprise a lot of opponents this year.
All four of these players should be selected for GPS rugby.
Prediction
Scots could win the competition but I’m expecting Riverview to pip them. Second
Shore
Last year Shore played some tough rugby but couldn’t win a game because it didn’t have the depth to cover injuries over ten rounds.
Trials
Shore had a cracking 17- 10 trial win against Kings last week when their forwards disrupted the Kings’ rucks
This will give them confidence in tight games. Their forwards are reported to be on the smaller side but mobile and gritty, and their flyhalf, first-class.
Players to watch
Scrumhalf Harry Emery will be a strong candidate for GPS Firsts. He reads the game cleverly and has an effective box kick, which will should be part of a Shore field-position game plan
Openside flanker Jum Woodhill is experienced and has a big engine. His passion for the battle of the breakdown will make him an influential leader in the forwards and a contender for representative honours.
Flyhalf Dom Naylor is in good form and knows how to tackle.
Prediction
I expect Shore to win games this year but they have lost some influential players including the Clancy twins, and I don’t think they will overcome their lack of depth over ten games. Sixth
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