2009 Brisbane Club Competition

[RugbyReg]

Crofty - what a champion.

Former Wallaby and QR Reds flanker and loyal club man David Croft begins his mission to claim the Hospital Cup trophy for Brothers when the 2009 Premier Rugby competition kicks off on Saturday.

Playing in a premiership winning side is one honour that has so far eluded him in an otherwise highly decorated career. Last year Brothers suffered a heartbreaking 22-21 defeat to Easts in the Grand Final after losing only one game throughout the year, while in 2006, Wests secured the trophy 23-22 with a try in the dying minutes.

?It?s tough, but I think losing has made the boys hungrier and it is certainly one of the reasons I?m still hanging around, because I really want one more shot at this,? Croft said.

?We?ve kept the core part of our team together for the past three years and in the last three years we?ve played in two finals, and obviously lost both of them.?

Croft plans to play a full-season for the Brethren ? his first in a decade ? after devoting nine years and 116 games to the Reds.

?I?m looking forward to getting the consistency of knowing where I?m playing week in, week out and I can really invest my time and energy into improving Brothers and hopefully winning this final,? he said.

?(Scrumhalf and captain) Brendan McKibbin is a great leader and I think he?s very much the future of Brothers, but I?ll certainly take a leadership role throughout the course of the year.?

But capturing the Hospital Cup trophy in 2009 won?t be easy. Easts have signalled as much by winning the Australian Club Championship 38-31 against Sydney University last weekend and other clubs are also shaping up as serious challengers.

Croft agrees this year?s competition will be one of the most hotly contested in years, with most sides drastically improving their playing rosters for 2009.

?Across the board, every team is certainly strong. There are no easy games any more," he said.

?Every team offers something and the most consistent team will probably go through and win it. Consistency has always been a problem for the good sides, so we?ll see how we go.?

Premier Rugby will feature four matches during the opening round on March 28, including Brothers hosting the Sunshine Coast Stingrays at Crosby Park.

Reigning premiers Easts are at Bottomley Park against University, while Norths will be desperate to start their season off with a bang against Souths at Shaw Rd.

The Caxton Cup trophy will once again be up for grabs in 2009, giving one game each week a ?finals? feel to it. Current champions Sunnybank will defend their title at Oldmac Oval against GPS on Saturday.

The Gold Coast Breakers and Wests have the bye.

Round One Queensland Premier Rugby:

3.00pm ? Brothers v Sunshine Coast Stingrays
3.00pm ? Easts v University
3.15pm ? Sunnybank v GPS
3.15pm ? Norths v Souths

 

[formeropenside]

Brothers commence their run at claiming their first Hospital Cup trophy in 22 years when they begin their 2009 Premier Rugby campaign against the Sunshine Coast Stingrays at Crosby Park on Saturday (kickoff 3.00pm).

The Brethren return a near unchanged squad from last year, where they only lost one regular season match, before falling to Easts 22-21 in the Grand Final. Their loss was their second Grand-Final defeat in three years, where they fell 23-22 to Wests in 2006.

New Coach Zane Hilton admits the squad has used past disappointments as motivation heading into 2009, but he says the team remains entirely focused on the Stingrays for this week.

?We?re looking for an onslaught against the Sunshine Coast this weekend,? Hilton said.

?We?re expecting fireworks as they always get up for this game. I know they had a loss against Logan (in the State Cup last weekend), but they?re a strong side, with good set-piece.?

Unlike the Sunshine Coast, Brothers have been dynamic during the State Cup, winning 71-7 against Townsville and 93-3 against Rockhampton in the previous two weeks.

Leading the way for the Brethren is former QR Reds flanker David Croft, who plans to play an entire season with the club for the first time in a decade.

Croft will lead from the front with captain and scrumhalf Brendan McKibbin, who will miss the Stingrays clash as he has been named for the Reds against the Chiefs later that night.

McKibbin?s partner-in-crime and flyhalf Dallan Murphy returns for his second season and will be expected by Hilton to consistently create attacking opportunity for his speedsters out wide.

?Dallon will grow hugely from the successes of last year,? he said.

?He played every premier grade game. It?s very important that he now backs up and continues to improve from last year?s effort.?

For the second straight season, Sunshine Coast has focused its retention and recruitment policy on players within the region.

Coach Glen Panaho understands their decision to focus on local talent means they could struggle to compete against some of the major Brisbane clubs, but the Stingrays boast one of the better forward packs in the competition.

?The fact that we haven?t had to introduce new players or anything means we?re 100 percent further than we were last year as the boys are used to your coaching style and they?re aware of the patterns of play,? Panaho said.

?You?d hope to see improvement, but just how much improvement remains to be seen.?

While Panaho insists the club has improved, he still appreciates the challenge that lies ahead.

?If the boys don?t match the firepower Brothers have got, we?re going to be in a bit of trouble,? he said.

?Last week (against Logan) was a very big disappointment for us. We lowered ourselves to such a low level of football and if we play like that against Brothers this weekend they?ll put 100 on us.?

Last year, the Stingrays pushed Brothers to the brink in round 16, but ultimately lost 24-21.

Brothers:

1. Adam Bennie
2. Andrew Coady
3. Adrian Dixon
4. Liam Shaw
5. Sean Ryan
6. Simon Price
7. David Croft
8. Ben McCormack
9. Tom Collins
10. Dallan Murphy
11. Anthony Sauer
12. Nathanuel Gendle
13. Brett Gillespie
14. Paul Donnely
15. James Harvey

16. Dan Kilmartin
17. Jordan Bennie
18. Trent Jones
19. Brad Hunt
20. Matt Anderton
21. John Gabbett
22. Anthony Pyers

Sunshine Coast:

1 Haydn Hirsimaki
2 Thomas Kearney
3 Shon Siemonek
4 Blake McMillan
5 Denham Wicks
6 Isaac Helu
7 Jason Hardie
8 Kingsley Lang
9 Mitchell Craig
10 Dylan Fahey
11 Sam Mensah
12 Marty Brown
13 Jonathan Brown
14 Thomas Cox
15 Adam Dear

No Nathan Williams (?) for the Sunshine Coast. No Andrew Shaw for Brothers, even on the bench.

 

[formeropenside]

GPS will be looking to avenge last year?s Minor Semi Final loss to Sunnybank when the two meet on Saturday for the Caxton Cup in the opening round of Queensland Premier Rugby at Oldmac Oval (kickoff 3.15pm).

GPS entered that game with an enormous amount of momentum after winning eight consecutive matches, but Sunnybank ran out 57-10 winners with a lineup that featured a host of QR Reds.

On Saturday, Sunnybank will be without the majority of their stars, although they still have the luxury of fielding Reds prop Dayna Edwards and lock Rob Simmons, along with Academy representatives Jake Schatz and Albert Anae.

?The season has probably come a little bit earlier than we needed it too, but that?s the way it goes and we?re prepared to go out there and have a crack,? Sunnybank coach Roy Saunders said.

The Dragons will also be fielding a new halves pairing with England Sevens representative Ben Gollings transferring to the Gold Coast Breakers and scrumhalf Sean Armstrong currently playing overseas.

Replacing Gollings is last year?s colts and premiership winning flyhalf Teti Tela, who has impressed Saunders enough during early season trials.

?He played for Ipswich Grammar last year and he?s gone very well in the Colts trials and had a couple of runs with us, so he?ll be thrown in the deep end,? Saunders said.

?But he?s a talented kid and his brother will be on the field playing fullback.?

Saunders says the club doesn?t have its normal strike-power at this point in this season, but he believes his side can still make a strong run for the Hospital Cup later in the year when Reds stars Greg Holmes, Digby Ioane, Ben Lucas, Charlie Fetoai and Mark McLinden could all potentially return.

?At the end of the season you always want to be playing finals and we?d like to think we?d figure. That?s certainly our long term goal,? he said.

?Our attitude is no different to any other time. No matter who?s in your team or what you?ve got, you always aspire to play finals.?

The Gallopers have undergone a change in coaching personnel during the off-season, but their lineup remains somewhat similar.

New head coach Matt Pini says his squad will need to aim up at both the scrum and lineout if they want to trouble the Dragons.

?Being a fullback we used to hear it all the time that forwards win you the game and I tend to agree with that now,? Pini said.

?That?s where it?s won and lost, so we?ll have to step up. We don?t struggle in that area, but we?re not as big as other teams, so we really have to concentrate at set-piece time.?

Pini admits the season ending achilles injury to centre Jimmy Kite - who came second in the Premier Grade Player of the Year voting in 2008 - was a major blow, but believes it shouldn?t affect the style of rugby the club aims to produce.

?Our game will be nothing out of the ordinary. We?ll just try to create space for our faster guys,? he said.

?With our team, we?re not exactly the biggest guys on the park, so we?ll have to be good with the ball in hand.?

There are few greater challenges than facing the Dragons on their home turf ? Sunnybank beat GPS 41-5 in the opening round last year ? but Pini says there are no longer any easy games in the competition.

?It?s tough enough beating (Sunnybank) now, let alone when they get all their Reds players back.

?But every game this year I think will be difficult.?

On Sunday, GPS will official open their $2 million ground redevelopment at Yoku Road from 10am.

GPS:

1. Ryan McDonald
2. Josh Pszczonka
3. Gavin Warren
4. Dan Gorman
5. Martin Perkins
6. Jon Ellis
7. Brendan Sexton
8. Steve Miller (C)
9. Tom Sully
10. Mark Bennedick
11. Sam Satui
12. Bev Tuqiri
13. Donovan Slade
14. Byron Roberts
15. Andy Finn

Sunnybank:

1. Albert Anae
2. Hamish McNeil
3. Dayna Edwards
4. Luke Billiau
5. Rob Simmons
6. Stu Hodby
7. Brad Meteyard
8. Jake Schatz
9. Ewan McGregor
10. Teti Tela
11. Chris Gilpin
12. Charlie Fetoai
13. Danny Routledge
14. Shane Sueili
15. Semiti Tela

 

[formeropenside]

and incidentally, Mike Hercus the USA flyhalf has signed to turn out for the Sunshine Coast Stingrays in the Brisbane club comp. He's not playing this week (finishing up in Japan) but should be around for Round 2.

The Force could do a lot worse than use their import slot to buy him for next season.

and lastly, it appears that Andrew Brown (of 2007 Reds fame) is back in town, and playing for University. Its a common enough name though, and could be someone else.

Easts:

1. Patrick Ritchie
2. James Charalambous
3. Samuel Cummins
4. Timothy Cree
5. Tim Baumann
6. Phillip Braban
7. William Brown
8. David Jessiman
9. Curtis Franks
10. Andrew Krelle
11. Coen Ladewig
12. Herman Porter
13. Toby White
14. David Lucas
15. Andrew Walker

University

1. Paul Mousa
2. Scott Kelly
3. Samuel Cochrane
4. Jordan Chapman
5. Nicolas Purcell
6. Steve Cook
7. William Brown
8. Timothy Aistrope
9. Ian Prior
10. Jonathan Lance
11. David Burns
12. Andrew Brown
13. Ryan Gilliman
14. Juan Van Vuuren
15. William Tuffley

 

[Lindommer]

and incidentally, Mike Hercus the USA flyhalf has signed to turn out for the Sunshine Coast Stingrays in the Brisbane club comp. He's not playing this week (finishing up in Japan) but should be around for Round 2. The Force could do a lot worse than use their import slot to buy him for next season.

Another Sydneysider snaffled up by those drpQs. Five-eighth for the Force? Haven't we got enough young Aussie number 10s looking for a spot?

 

[formeropenside]

and incidentally, Mike Hercus the USA flyhalf has signed to turn out for the Sunshine Coast Stingrays in the Brisbane club comp. He's not playing this week (finishing up in Japan) but should be around for Round 2. The Force could do a lot worse than use their import slot to buy him for next season.

Another Sydneysider snaffled up by those drpQs. Five-eighth for the Force? Haven't we got enough young Aussie number 10s looking for a spot?

I know he's a Sydney boy, and to some extent I am surprised he never got a chance at the Tahs 10 jersey (although I dont know when he committed to the USA, but it was at least pre 2003).

Lindommer - yes we do (and most of them Queenslanders) but the Force will want an experienced playmaker to replace Giteau, and Hercus is certainly that. Also, which young Tah 10 will you donate to the Force, if you are so keen to see an Aussie get a run?

 

[RugbyReg]

Beale is going to league anyway, according to R&M.

I saw an A Brown score two tries for Uni last week and wondered whether it was him. He was in Japan, so I guess the timing is right ala Hercus.

Tough game for GPS, but they have at least a decent front row there. Trivia tit bit, Gaven Warren was the 19 year old prop Eddie Jones selected v the Lions a couple of years ago and promptly instructed to take a dive at the first scrum to allow uncontested scrums.

 

[Lindommer]

and incidentally, Mike Hercus the USA flyhalf has signed to turn out for the Sunshine Coast Stingrays in the Brisbane club comp. He's not playing this week (finishing up in Japan) but should be around for Round 2. The Force could do a lot worse than use their import slot to buy him for next season.

Another Sydneysider snaffled up by those drpQs. Five-eighth for the Force? Haven't we got enough young Aussie number 10s looking for a spot?

I know he's a Sydney boy, and to some extent I am surprised he never got a chance at the Tahs 10 jersey (although I dont know when he committed to the USA, but it was at least pre 2003).

Lindommer - yes we do (and most of them Queenslanders) but the Force will want an experienced playmaker to replace Giteau, and Hercus is certainly that. Also, which young Tah 10 will you donate to the Force, if you are so keen to see an Aussie get a run?

from an earlier thread http://www.greenandgoldrugby.com/forum/index.php/topic,8792.msg32648.html#msg32648

As things stand now, Giteau, Daruda and O'Connor are the five-eighths for the Force (which resulted in Brock James, Lachlan MacKay and Jim Hilgendorf leaving the last few years), Cooper and Barnes for the Reds, Beale and Halangahu for the Tahs (with a Wallaby, SNK, as reserve for the reserve 10) and Lealiifano and To'omua for the Brumbies. There are plenty of promising young Aussie five-eighths hanging around. The only problem is finding slots for them all to develop and leave us with some depth at number 10 for the Wobblies. What Australian rugby needs more of at the moment is quality depth in the centres.

The Force shouldn't have much trouble convincing a young number 10 to move west, starting with either Lealiifano or To'omua.

 

[formeropenside]

Norths are seeking a stellar performance to kick start their premiership aspirations when they face Souths at Shaw Road in round one of Queensland Premier Rugby on Saturday (kickoff 3:15pm).

Norths commenced last season with seven consecutive wins, but injuries, a lack of depth and representative commitments ruined any chances of a top four finish.

This year, coach Chris Roche has gone out and recruited heavily to ensure the Eagles have the player depth to create history by winning their first Hospital Cup since 1976.

Roche understands the difficulty of making the finals, having been at the club since 2005, but says anything less than a top four finish for the Eagles would be seen as a disappointment.

?It will be very disappointing given the strides we made last year,? Roche said.

?We know better than anyone the reasons why we didn?t crack into the top four from last year. I don?t think anyone would argue that when we had our top 15 out (on the field) we were formidable.

?Now that we?ve increased our depth, it would be very disappointing.?

Two of their prized recruits, Luke Samoa and Michael Bond, come to Norths after enjoying success in rugby league?s Queensland Cup competition. The two will line up alongside each other at flyhalf and inside centre and will be responsible for the bulk of the playmaking duties.

?They're very comfortable with each other and they're both very good players,? Roche said.

?Michael Bond had never played rugby union before this pre-season. Innately he is a great footballer with enormous potential and he just gets better and better."

While the Eagles have their long term goals, Roche insists his side remains entirely focused on the Magpies. He says while his club has the strike-power out wide, he believes the game will be won or lost in the forwards.

?(Souths) are going to come at us like a ton of bricks and I think they?ve got the ammunition to cause trouble,? he said.

?I know they play a very aggressive style of rugby which is successful for them so I suspect they're going to play a similar way against us.

?I think it?s going to be a corker of a game. It will be a really tough battle.?

Souths coach Dan McKellar agrees his side likes to play a physical game and believes his forwards can do well in the scrum.

?We like to think we have a pretty good scrum and we?re pretty happy with our front-row row, so their set-piece is something we?ll definitely target,? McKellar said.

Souths were the hard-luck story of 2008, losing the majority of tight matches and eventually finishing in seventh place.

If Souths begin the season strongly, McKellar believes there is no reason the Magpies can?t make a strong run for the title in 2009.

They have kept a core group of players together from last season ? something many sides have struggled with ? and will welcome back QR Reds Quade Cooper, Van Humphries, Jack Kennedy and Saia and Anthony Fainga'a at the conclusion of the Investec Super 14 competition in May.

?When we did our season review we found we had lost five games by four points or less,? McKellar said.

?If we can change that we?ll be in good shape when we get our Reds back. Then there?s no reason we can?t feature at the end of the year.?

Last year the corresponding match went the way of the home side, with Norths knocking off Souths 29-15 in round one.

But Souths enter the match with strong trial form, highlighted by last Saturday?s four try 28-12 win over the Gold Coast Breakers.

Norths:

1. Matthew Quilty
2. Ryan Schultz
3. Corey Meehan
4. Will Hansen
5. Utu Maninoa
6. Will Andersen
7. Ray Stowers
8. Ita Liuteine
9. Mark McLean
10. Luke Samoa
11. Stone Kolio
12. Michael Bond
13. Tim Collins
14. Dylan Hawea
15. Jesse Mogg

Souths:

1. Sam Denny
2. Anthony Ongolea
3. Sam Newa
4. Matt Bennett
5. Jesse Browning
6. Bruce Kolio
7. Chris Johnson
8. Paula Kaho
9. Toby Spencer
10. Manasa Faatoe
11. Wilisoni Tilagucaguca
12. Adney Anitema
13. Ben Farrell
14. Kelemedi (Junior) Vosuqa
15. Byron Hutchinson

So no AJ Gilbert, despite apparently turning out for Souths in the pre-season. Interesting as well that Norths have recruited a few league players and are using them at 10 and 12. No sign of the Norths PNG connection that turned out for them last year.

 

[RugbyReg]

Ewan McGregor at 9 for the Bank? I THOUGHT he was a flanker? Can anyone confirm? Sean Armstrong was their scrummie and skipper, but I am pretty sure McGregor was a openside?

 

[formeropenside]

Ewan McGregor at 9 for the Bank? I THOUGHT he was a flanker? Can anyone confirm? Sean Armstrong was their scrummie and skipper, but I am pretty sure McGregor was a openside?

He was playing 6 for them a few times last season - here's one team sheet:

http://www.qru.com.au/verve/_resources/080726.pdf

 

[RugbyReg]

I shall be watching the No 8 for Brothers with interest. Ben McCormack. He was skipper of the Gregory Terrace team that had Benny Lucas at 10 (they were premiers). He was fantastic. Very skilled, hard working, Mark Loane running style (not as big).

 

[spectator]

Some reasonably tight games with Easts up over Uni and Gps beating Sunnybank by a point. Souths got over Norths in a bit of a surprise to me but the big one was a 67-6 win to Brothers over Sunny Coast! I see Crofty scored a couple of times.. His influence at Crosby Park will be significant this year.

 

[TOCC]

Ewan McGregor at 9 for the Bank? I THOUGHT he was a flanker? Can anyone confirm? Sean Armstrong was their scrummie and skipper, but I am pretty sure McGregor was a openside?

yeah sean amstrong wont be back at sunnybank for another month or so i believe, still overseas.

AJ Gilbert did play for Souths premier grade, he was the starting blindside flanker

 

[RugbyReg]

On his player profile, Mike Hercus lists his interests away from rugby as golf, scuba diving, fly fishing and travel.

That explains why Sunshine Coast Stingrays coach Glenn Panoho had little trouble convincing the talented flyhalf to join the club this season.

A veteran of 41 appearances for the US including the last two World Cups, Hercus signed with the Rays after his Japanese club IBM Big Blue folded.

He will make his debut when the Sunshine Coast plays host to a Papua New Guinea Prime Minister's XV at Stockland Park from 3pm tomorrow.

"Glenn did a wonderful job of selling the Sunshine Coast to me, but he didn't need to try too hard because I've been here many times before and love it," Hercus said yesterday.

"They have a great set up here. For an amateur club it's run very professionally and I've been very impressed so far."

While he's proudly represented the stars and stripes for nearly seven years, Hercus' accent is as Aussie as a meat pie.

The reason? While he was born in Virginia, he was actually brought up in Sydney and won selection in the Australian Schoolboys and under-21 outfits before jumping at the chance to play international rugby for the Eagles.

He's looking forward to adding some attacking spark to a Stingrays outfit that is in dire need of a reliable playmaker.

Hercus is also a high quality goalkicker, with 429 international points to his credit.

"To be honest I don't know too much about the Stingrays, but certainly if I can bring some stability to the position and contribute the skill set that I have, hopefully that helps the team out," he said.

Unlike the other internationals on the Stingrays books, Morgan Turinui and Daniel Braid, Hercus expects to be available to wear the Sunshine Coast's blue jumper for the majority of the season.

"I've still got commitments with the US national team that I'm expected to fulfil, but hopefully that won't keep me away too much," he said. "We play Ireland and Wales at the end of May and beginning of June in the US."

The 29-year-old believes he has what it takes to compete in one more World Cup ? New Zealand in 2011.

"Whether this sits well with the coach we'll have to wait and see, but I'd like to do one more World Cup," he said. "One more go would probably be a good way to bow out (of international rugby)."

 

[RugbyReg]

University coach Mick Heenan will attempt to secure his first victory for the Students against his old club GPS on Saturday in round 2 of Premier Rugby at St Lucia.

Heenan was a coaching stalwart at GPS through colts and grades, before opting to take up a new challenge with University this year.

Asked if it was an advantage knowing the strengths and weaknesses of his past players so well, Heenan responded: ?I suppose the GPS players know the way I coach as well, so it might be some sort of an advantage to them."

?For the University guys it?s probably not that much of an issue and from my point of view I just want to get a win on the board for the season.

?Obviously it?s going to be a bit strange coaching against GPS, but that?s all part of it.?

University?s tight 25-20 loss to last season?s premiers and Australian Club Champions Easts was a sign of the improvement the club has made under Heenan in the offseason.

Now he must instil a winning culture to the club following a 2008 season that managed only two wins.

?The challenge for us is trying to develop a culture that expects to win, rather than (expecting to) lose,? he said.

?We probably didn?t expect ourselves to be in a winning position on Saturday and we got a bit of stage fright.?

Grabbing that vital first victory won?t come easy for the Students as GPS fields an experienced lineup.

The GPS set-piece faces a challenge on Saturday against the likes of QR Reds hooker James Hanson and lock Adam Byrnes, but will take confidence from having subdued and at times dominated Sunnybank?s well respected scrum and lineout including Reds Rob Simmons and Dayna Edwards.

?We?ve got two of the better props in the comp, with a few young forwards around them,? GPS coach Matt Pini said.

?Our lineout against Sunnybank was reasonable, but it probably has more improvement than the scrum.?

Pini downplayed the significance of Heenan?s "inside knowledge" of the Jeeps' players.

?It?s easy to know what people do, but they?ve still got to try to stop it,? he said.

?We can?t just put in 15 other blokes because he (Heenan) knows them (the current team). If he manages to pick everything we do and we lose then I?ll say ?well done?.

?But we can?t worry about them too much. We just need to concentrate on what we do and on our processes and playing to our potential. If you do that you can?t complain whether you win or lose.?

Last year GPS scored two victories over University, 10-5 and 28-15.

University:

1. Paul Mousa
2. James Hanson
3. Samuel Cochrane
4. Adam Byrnes
5. Nicolas Purcell
6. Steve Cook
7. William Brown
8. Timothy Aistrope
9. Will Thompson
10. Ian Prior
11. Juan Van Vuuren
12. Jono Lance
13. Ryan Gilliman
14. Steve O?Leary
15. David Burns

GPS:

1. Ryan McDonald
2. Josh Pszczonka
3. Gavin Warren
4. Dan Gorman
5. Martin Perkins
6. Jon Ellis
7. Brendan Sexton
8. Steve Miller (c)
9. Tom Sully
10. Mark Bennedick
11. Sam Satui
12. Bev Tuqiri
13. Donovan Slade
14. Byron Roberts
15. Andy Finn

 

[RugbyReg]

Wests will look to erase the memory of last year?s wooden spoon when they kick start their 2009 campaign against defending Premiers Easts for the Paul Mooney Cup in round 2 of Premier Rugby at Bottomley Park on Saturday (kickoff 3:15pm).

Wests coach David Witt said the 'Dogs will field a new look Premier side, with only 12 players from the 2008 Premier and Reserve Grade squads.

They have recruited strongly, highlighted by their signing of 2008 Queensland Cup players Quentin Topage and his cousin and former Western Tigers recruit Walter Imo.

They have also signed former Easts Premier Rugby player John Hoyland as captain.

?It is a whole new slate for us. It?s like starting a brand new club,? Witt said.

?There are only a couple of blokes who are stalwarts of the club that know what happened last year.?

Easts have had a bruising start to the year with a victory over NSW Shute Shield champions Sydney Uni, a tough match against New Zealand touring squad Hawkes Bay and their round one battle over University, while Wests will be easing into the match after a bye last week and trials against country sides in the State Cup.

Witt says last weekend's bye was a blessing in disguise as players recovered from injuries sustained in their impressive victories over Rockhampton (58-7) and Cairns (59-7).

But he is conscious of the advantage Easts will have in team understanding and cohesion.

?Our biggest trick will be playing as a unit. We?re playing a side on Saturday that has virtually played together since colts, so as compared to us, we are chalk and cheese,? he said.

?I don?t think we have a problem from an individual basis on ability, we just have the problem at the moment of making them come together as a team, which doesn?t happen overnight.?

Easts kicked off their campaign to win back-to-back premierships with a 25-20 win over University, but coach Pat Richards was far from pleased with the performance.

?We were below the standard we expect to play at in every facet, really,? Richards said.

?We think we may have been a little flat as we put so much in the week before (against Sydney University in the Australia Club Championship).?

Pleasing Richards though is the response his players have displayed at training during the week.

?They were disappointed with their performance on Saturday, so it?s good that they are actually being a bit hard on themselves, rather than us having to wag our fingers at them,? he said.

The match has an added incentive as they vie for the Paul Mooney Cup, a trophy created in 2007 in recognition of the contribution made by Paul Mooney to both clubs.

Wests won the inaugural challenge in 2007, but Easts have held the title ever since, defending it twice last year, with an 18-15 defeat in round one and 27-24 in round 10.

Easts:

1. Sam Cummins
2. James Charalambous
3. Ian Seuala
4. Adam Preocanin
5. Tim Baumann
6. Luke Bertini (c)
7. Phil Braban
8. David Jessiman
9. Curtis Franks
10. Andrew Krelle
11. Matthew Flett
12. Herman Porter
13. Paletuatoa Toulupe
14. Toby White
15. Andrew Walker


Wests:

1. Ernest Skelton
2. Matt English
3. Ruben Leulua
4. Jarred Hanna
5. Ian Dryburgh
6. Poutasi Luafutu
7. Cassidy Holland
8. James Sua
9. John Hoyland
10. Hugh Amos
11. Peter Nelson
12. Walter Imo
13. Ian Aukoso
14. Doug Hutton
15. Quentin Topage

 

[RugbyReg]

The Gold Coast Breakers will attempt to reverse their early season trial defeat by Souths when the two meet at Chipsy Wood Oval on Saturday (kickoff 3:15pm) in round 2 of Queensland Premier Rugby.

Souths were convincing 28-12 victors over the Breakers in their trial and continued that good form in a come-from-behind win against Norths last weekend.

The victory over the Eagles highlighted the improvement and maturity the Magpies have gained since last year, where they lost five games by four points or less.

That Souths ran into a stiff breeze during the second half made their comeback all the more impressive against a Norths outfit expected to be top four challengers in 2009.

?We might have surprised a few people, but it?s one game into the season, so we?re not getting too excited,? McKellar said.

?But you would like to think it?s a sign that the players are becoming more experienced in those tight situations.?

Last weekend Souths simply outmuscled a smaller Eagles side, something that will prove difficult to replicate against a strong Breakers forward pack including captain John Norton and number eight Mitch Francis.

While Souths were winners a fortnight ago, McKellar is expecting an improved performance from his opposition.

?They?ll have some players coming back who didn?t play and that was a trial game so you generally can?t take too much out of it,? he said.

?They are always physical encounters, so by no means are we getting too far ahead of ourselves on what a trial game means and what this game means.

?There is going to be a completely different atmosphere on the field.?

New Breakers coach Tom Rosewarne joins the club in 2009 along with an influx of new players including star flyhalf Ben Gollings, who is currently away with the England Sevens side.

Rosewarne has recruited a host of young local talent to the club as he tries to reinvigorate a side that won the Hospital Cup in 2006.

?It is basically the nucleus of last year?s team that we are working with, but we?ve had quite an influx of players,? Rosewarne said.

?We have looked at the playing depth around the Gold Coast area and what we have discovered is there is a lot of good quality talent.?

Rosewarne wouldn?t go as far to say his club was in a rebuilding year, but he expects it will take some time for the combinations and structures to fall into place.

?One of the challenges in what we?re doing is we have guys in our squad that have come from eight different clubs around the Gold Coast and we?ve got a lot of different nationalities,? he said.

?So it has been quite a challenge moulding a team together and a spirit together, because we don?t have the benefit of continuity.?

Rosewarne admits it?s harder to perform coming off a bye, especially in the opening round of the competition, but believes his side is prepared for a bruising encounter with Souths.

?Souths are a very strong team across the park and they have a very strong forward pack, so we?re really going to have to front up if we want to knock them over.?

Last year the Breakers defeated the Magpies twice, 22-19 and 24-17.

Gold Coast Breakers:

1. Jodie Danagher
2. Dale Salmon
3. Cole Mooney
4. Rueben Fuimaono
5. Brendon Holgate
6. Tyler Edwards
7. John Norton (c)
8. Mitch Francis
9. Matthew Langmack
10. Ben Tapuai
11. Joel Sykes
12. Leigh Holtsbaum
13. Watene Waenga
14. Shaun Ngawini
15. Billy Ngawini

Souths:

1. Sam Denny
2. Anthony Ongolea
3. Samuela Newa
4. Matt Bennett
5. James Turner
6. Stephen Prosser
7. Chris Johnson (c)
8. AJ Gilbert
9. Toby Spencer
10. Mase Faatoe
11. Wilisoni Tilagucaguca
12. Adney Anitema
13. Albert Vulivuli
14. Kelemedi Vosuqa
15. John Tabrett

 

[formeropenside]

Interestingly, there is no Dayna Edwards turning out for Sunnybank v Norths. Either he is injured, or has gone to Perth to be 23rd man in the squad, in case Weeks or Kennedy fall over, I guess.

Norths

1. Matt Quilty
2. Ryan Schultz
3. Corey Meehan
4. Will Hansen
5. Utu Maninoa
6. Will Andersen
7. Ray Stowers
8. Ita Liuteine
9. Toddy Taufa
10. Luke Samoa
11. Gina Ponda
12. Willie Live
13. Michael Bond
14. Mitch Flynn
15. Dillon Hawea

16. Mark McLean
17. Jesse Mogg
18. Simon Obongo
19. Damian Flynn


The Bank

1. Albert Anae
2. Benjamin Fox
3. Mosa Afu
4. Tom Murday
5. Robert Simmons
6. Stu Hodby
7. Brad Meteyard
8. Jake Schatz
9. Henry Fagaiava
10. Teti Tela
11. Howard Willey
12. David To'omua
13. Robert Lee
14. Shane Seiuli
15. Semiti Tela

 

[RugbyReg]

THE yawnng gap between representative players and club footballers has been demonstrated again with Brothers belting Sunnybank 69-16 in Premier rugby.
Brothers ran in 11 tries to two with a display of sheer power and pace against an under-strength Dragons outfit.

The Brethren have an ideal side to win a Premier competition because about three quarters of them have had rep experience but won't be required for the Reds or various national sides.

Reds halfback Brendan McKibbin, back in club football, runs the show like an army general behind a Brothers pack which is rarely mastered.

He is also a dead-eye kicker landing seven conversions against the Dragons.

Brothers has ditched its traditional power game and mixed it with an exciting attacking brand of football.

It gives wingers such as Paul Doneley, who scored another four tries against the Dragons, an enormous amount of room to move.

Sunnybank tried hard but were metres off the pace and will be waiting for the return of some rep and injured players.

The Dragons would have dearly loved their star of recent seasons Ben Gollings who is now on the Gold Coast.

At Yoku Road, Easts and GPS turned on an entertaining game which showed both were genuine finals contenders.

Premiers Easts came from behind to win 24-20 victory and end GPS's amazing nine game winning streak at home.

The Tigers looked jaded after a tough start to the season when falling to Wests two weeks ago and coach Pat Richards used the Easter break to freshen up his side.

GPS got off to a great start when Reds winger Rod Davies, who was a late inclusion, scored a try which displayed his pace.

However, Easts wizard Andrew Walker produced some magic to set up winger Coen Ladewig for probably the try of the game.

Jeeps led 13-12 at halftime and then 20-12 with only minutes remaining but Easts finished too well.

Easts impressive fullback Aidan Toua and Matt Flett scored quick tries to grab a win.

Both sides will need to work on turning over the ball at breakdowns but can be confident they are on track for the September finals.

At St Lucia, powerful Souths winger Kelemedi Vosuqa scored four tries as the Magpies smacked University in a 60-33 tryathon.

There were 14 tries scored in the game which could indicate poor defence.

But in Souths case their nine tries could generally be put down to some exciting play by their sparkling outside backs.

University who recruited extensively in the off season were expected to be the big movers this year.

However, they have lost all three games this season and will lose a lot more if they don't solve some alarming defensive problems in particular in the midfield.

Certainly players such as Will Tuffley, who contributed 13 points with a try and four conversions, continue to play well but Uni will have to come up with a few more 80 minute players.

Souths are unbeaten this year and with former Reds backrower A J Gilbert in good form the Magpies backline is enjoying quality ball.

The Gold Coast has had a disjointed start to the year, thanks to rain and the draw, and showed it as it toughed out a 34-20 win against the Sunshine Coast.

The Breakers were never going to lose scoring four tries to two with new recruit Ben Gollings calling the shots.

But the Sunshine Coast wouldn't go away with star recruit Mike Hercus showing touches of class which will carry the side a long way this year.