The 2011 season of Queensland Premier Rugby starts today. The Brisbane grade competition dates from 1929 and nowadays comprises ten clubs: eight from the capital and one each from the Sunshine Coast and the Gold Coast. We thought we’d take a look at the first round match-ups, and while we’re at it cast an eye over Round 5 of Sydney Premier Rugby — the long-running contest for the Shute Shield involving 12 great clubs from across the metropolitan area.
Fly your club colours with comments below.
Queensland Premier Rugby — Round 1
Sunshine Coast v. Easts @ Stockland Park, 3:00pm
The Stingrays, the 2010 Premiership runners-up, host the Tigers in a promising match-up. Both teams are expecting big things in 2011 so let’s hope they hit the ground running and set a standard for the Premier season.
Sunshine Coast: 1. Haydn Hirsimaki, 2. Benjamin Church, 3. Shon Siemonek, 4. Bryden Lang, 5. Gareth Clouston (c), 6. Tom Beattie, 7. Matthew Blain, 8. Mitchell King, 9. Grant Kay, 10. Shane Drahm, 11. Stephanus Van Der Walt, 12. Caleb Ralph, 13. Toese Lealamanua, 14. Elliot Hagen, 15. Ashley Rankin.
Easts: 1. Chris Minoetti 2. Matt Randell 3. Andrew Parker 4. Greg Riley, 5. Michael Stolberg, 6. Luke Bertini (c), 7. Mitch Sincock, 8. Ed Quirk, 9. Dominic Fuller, 10. Matt Brandon, 11. Joel Faulkner, 12. David Skelton, 13. Toby White, 14. Johnny Wilder, 15. Aidan Toua.
University v. Souths @ St Lucia, 3:00pm
2010 Premiers the Red Heavies host the Magpies in another clash of contenders. Both teams will be missing their Reds stars; University probably has the greater depth while Souths are in something of a rebuilding phase.
University: 1. Kevin Davies, 2. Halley Appleby, 3. Sam Cochrane, 4. David McDuling, 5. Jordan Chapman, 6. Vili Faingaa, 7. Harry Elliott, 8. Tim Buchanan, 9. Will Thompson, 10. Dominic Kohler, 11. Tom Cox, 12. Herman Porter, 13. Ryan Gilliman, 14. Tom McQueen, 15. Will Tuffley.
Souths: 1. David Feao, 2. Anthony Ongolea, 3. Sam Denny (c), 4. Ryan Wisemantel, 5. Stu Williamson, 6. Marius Botha, 7. Gerard O’Hare, 8. Aaron Willis, 9. Nathan Munro, 10. Christopher Field, 11. Lachlan James, 12. Matt Ika, 13. Whitmer Tuputala, 14. Junior Lafaele, 15. Willy Tilagucaguca.
North Brisbane v. Brothers @ Hugh Courtney Oval, 3:00pm
The Brethren will be looking to make an emphatic start to the season when they visit the Eagles, who are fielding a young team with a few fresh faces.
Norths: 1. Alexander Cousner, 2. Scott Kennon, 3. Kesomi Lolotonga, 4. Tom Haire, 5. Nathan Watts, 6. Robert William-Luketina, 7. Tom Hewitt, 8. Carlos Gavidi, 9. Daniel Ritchie, 10. Robert Butcher, 11. Sam Purvis, 12. Saula Vuala, 13. Mitchell Flynn, 14. Michael Lynagh, 15. Keni Blair.
Brothers: 1. Iosefo Tabalala, 2. Tom Sayer, 3. Adrian Dixon, 4. Matt Dews, 5. Nathan Ross, 6. Simon Price (c), 7. Charlie Freney, 8. Ben McCormack, 9. Sam Grasso, 10. Matt Smith, 11. Anthony Pyers, 12. Nathanuel Gendle, 13. Kapa Moeke, 14. Paul Doneley, 15. Damon Murphy.
GPS v. Gold Coast @ Yoku Road, 3.20pm
The Gallopers and the Breakers will be hoping to erase memories of 2010 when they clash today. It’s hard to predict which way this one will go, the hosts being prone to disappointing and the visitors with a reputation as occasional giant-killers. Both packs look strong, with GPS boasting a few bigger names.
GPS: 1. Jean-Pierre Smith, 2. Joao Caldeira-Santos, 3. Ruan Smith, 4. Daniel Gorman, 5. Mitchell Carpenter, 6. Jono Ellis (c), 7. Ben Coridas, 8. Gavin Murphy, 9. Curtis Franks, 10. Pat Smith, 11. Josh Logan, 12. Daniel Early, 13. Todd Winkley, 14. Chris Kuridrani, 15. Nick Frisby.
Gold Coast: 1. Jack Kimmince, 2. Josh Cooper, 3. Jon Bishop, 4. Rubin Fuimaono, 5. Mike McDonald, 6. Greg Melton, 7. Jarrad Butler, 8. Jay Halevu, 9. Tony Bartley,10. John Monu, 11. Karl Manning, 12. Adam Mansey, 13. Dan Nethery, 14. Joel Sykes, 15. Matt Langmack.
Wests v. Sunnybank @ Sylvan Road, 3:00pm
The Bulldogs wiill be hoping to use that wooden spoon to good effect when they take on the Dragons today. Realistically, though, Sunnybank are serious contenders while Wests are just getting up off the canvas. A highlight of this match will be the match-up between back rowers Leroy Houston for Sunnybank and prodigal Bulldog Poutasi Luafutu.
Wests: 1. Henry Brown, 2. Hunter Thomas, 3. Mitchell Frost, 4. Dugald Struss, 5. Steve Mison, 6. Kirk Hawkins, 7. Angus Cottrell, 8. Poutasi Luafutu (c), 9. Nigel Genia,10. Rob Johnson, 11.Tom Bennett, 12. Sean van Tonder, 13. Peter Nelson, 14. Benfield Lainchbury, 15. Ian Aokuso.
Sunnybank: 1. Mosa Afu, 2. Benjamin Fox, 3. Nathan Byrne, 4. Benjamin Adams, 5. Bradley Elms, 6. Nigel Ah Wong, 7. George Blomfield, 8. Leroy Houston, 9. Siaosi Taufa, 10. Matt Lucas, 11. Shane Seiuli, 12. Robert Lee, 13. Rota Setu, 14. Semiti Tela, 15. Jason Hofmeyr.
Sydney Premier Rugby — Round 5
Eastwood v. Warringah @ T.G. Millner Field, 3:00pm
The undefeated Woods host the battling Rats in the contest for the Sir Roden Cutler Shield. It could be a painful afternoon for the visitors, who lost to bottom-of-the-table Parramatta last week. But expect them to make a contest of it, at least in the first half.
Eastwood: 1. Simon Norris, 2. Bleddyn Gant, 3. Martin Plokstys, 4. Tom Alexander, 5. Josh Dunning, 6. Gareth Palamo, 7. Miles McCaffrey, 8. Hugh Perrett (c), 9. Nic White, 10. Pierre Hola, 11. Mark Frost, 12. Sione Piukala, 13. Tim Bennetts, 14. John Grant, 15. Shane Collins.
Warringah: 1. Richard Southan, 2. David Mason, 3. Dan Barnard, 4. Tristan Stanley, 5. Mitchell Longrigg, 6. Haydn Black, 7. James Lindfield, 8. Jason Peseta, 9. Josh Holmes (c), 10. Maurice Kennedy, 11. Michael Dalton, 12. Joe Walsh, 13. Ed Doyle, 14. Dylan Smouha, 15. Hamish Angus.
West Harbour v. Randwick @ Concord Oval, 3:00pm
The Pirates have one win and a draw from the four rounds to date, and the Galloping Greens have a single win, but both have been close to winning a couple more. This match gives both sides the chance to state their true ambitions for 2011.
West Harbour: 1. Todd Pearce, 2. Reg de Jager, 3. Vaughan Lomax, 4. Tom Hikila, 5. Damien Lloyd, 6. Tom Games, 7. Dan Thomas, 8. Isaiah Pine; 9. Jeremy Su’a, 10. Shaun Treweek, 11. Macquire Tatola, 12. Henry Seavula, 13. Nua Alone, 14. Tito Mua, 15. Liam Windon.
Randwick: 1. Daniel Spencer, 2. Atonio Halangahu, 3. Steven Noriega, 4. Lai Vatadroka, 5. Geoffrey Ingram, 6. David Parsons, 7. Tim McGann, 8. Al McFarland, 9. Sam Bartlett, 10. Jai Ayoub, 11. Clinton Sills, 12. Toby Browne, 13. John Tamanika, 14. Ethan Ford, 15. Tim Wright (c).
Gordon v. Parramatta @ Chatswood Oval, 3:10pm
The Two Blues return to the northern hunting grounds looking to build on last week’s triumph over Warringah. But the Highlanders are on a high and a fourth successive win will sustain their spot near the top of the table. This match will be broadcast live on ABC1.
Gordon: 1. Lawrence Marsh, 2. Tobius Gukibau (c), 3. Travis Church, 4. Ben Paurini, 5. Lex Fairley, 6. Jonno Broome, 7. Mitch Greenway, 8. Junior To’o, 9. Terry Preston, 10. Josh Keil, 11. Eric Maroni, 12. Tom Mathews, 13. Dion Berryman, 14. Matt McDougall, 15. Dave Harvey.
Parramatta: 1.Sione Taula, 2. Trent Hoscher, 3. Richard Just, 4. Waqa Vulawalu, 5. James Riddell, 6. Andrew Cox, 7. Rodney Ma’a, 8. Maile Latekefu, 9. Lua Vailoaloa, 10. Ioane Sefo, 11. Jesse Leota, 12. Toese Lealemanua, 13. Damien Fakafanua, 14. Brendan Lane, 15. Tyler Stevens.
Penrith v. Sydney University @ Nepean Rugby Park, 3:00pm
The Students haven’t had a flying start to the season but it’s hard to see the winless Emus bringing them down today. Playing at home will be a plus in a match that’s likely to be a little untidy and very wet.
Penrith: 1. Peter Niumata, 2. Shaun O’Connor, 3. Richard Aho; 4. Luke Williams, 5. Dale Shane; 6. Winnie Paulo, 7. Rob Carlson, 8. Viliami Napia’a; 9. Solomona Silipa, 10. Gavin Duncan; 11. Tala Mapesone, 12. Hamilton Va’alepu, 13. Lachlan Porteous, 14. Stan Tuionuku; 15. Ateloa Okati.
Sydney University: 1. Aldy King, 2. Ben Roberts, 3. Sam Talakai, 4. Tom Heslop, 5. Sam Carter, 6. Lachlan McCutcheon, 7. David Hickey, 8. Jack de Guingand, 9. Matt Schwager (c), 10. Angus Roberts, 11. Nick Edwards, 12. James McMahon, 13. Michael Hodge, 14. Levi Dodd; 15. Alex Rokobaro.
Eastern Suburbs v. Manly @ Woollahra Oval, 3:00pm
Second and third do battle here and that’s all anyone needs to know. This game will be a cracker, a heavy track notwithstanding.
Easts: 1. Campese Ma’afu, 2. Tom Coolican, 3. Rob McMickan, 4. Adam Byrnes, 5. Phil Mathers, 6. Jordan Brown, 7. Tom Chamberlain, 8. Richard Stanford, 9. Luke Irwin, 10. Kurt Morath, 11. Ratu Ma’afu, 12. Tom Azar, 13. Anton Lavin, 14. Jonnie Morath; 15. Junior Poroku.
Manly: 1. Eddie Aholelei, 2. Elvis Taione, 3. Salesi Manu, 4. Greg Peterson, 5. Cadeyrn Neville, 6. Ed Gower, 7. Kotoni Ale, 8. Luke Jones, 9. Chris Cottee, 10. Ben Seymour, 11. JP du Plessis, 12. Brian Sefanaia, 13. Jacob Woodhouse, 14. Lui Siale, 15. BJ Hartman.
Northern Suburbs v. Southern Districts @ North Sydney Oval, 3:00pm
The Shoremen host the Rebels in another match that lets would-be contenders show if they’re serious about season 2011. Souths are building momentum and could come away with their fourth win.
Northern Suburbs: 1. Lawrence Hunting, 2. Scott Podmore, 3. Nick Lah, 4. Seti Tafua, 5. Ben Matwijow, 6. Paulie Tuala, 7. Mat Lamont, 8. AJ Gilbert, 9. Steve Evans, 10. Ben Murray, 11. Cam Crawford, 12. Henari Veratau, 13. Bill Meakes, 14. Chris Moore, 15. Ben Borg.
Southern Districts: 1. Tetera Faulkner, 2. Nick Seymour, 3. Duncan Chubb, 4. Rome Nifo, 5. Hoani Matengi, 6. Luke Smart, 7. Sean Doyle, 8. Sam Latunipulu, 9. Grayson Hart, 10. Ben Volavola, 11. Ryan Shortland, 12. Josh Gamgee (c), 13. Nicky Price, 14. Ben Connolly, 15. Rohan Saifoloi.
