@ Galloper ( in response to your queries over next year and who's who in the Met Carnival Zoo )
Sunshine Coast ( projected 5th to 6th )
Some quality here in the centres - who can also play 8/6 as any 12 can - or vice versa - as the rage is - but do they have the quantity elsewhere ? . Probably not . They'll be willing and put up a good fight as a group that have been together for a good 5 years or so but they - like all the other regional teams ( bar Downs and South Coast ) will just be too thin
Downs Region ( projected 4th to 5th )
TGS and Downlands would populate the majority of a Downs team . Between these 2 schools you've got 2 of the top 3 or 4 #10's in the age group ( Baxter Franey and Kai Duggan ) , probably the best #15 age group ( Mac Grealy - although he will be going against Jack Bowyer in Met West who will back as an 18 year old ) you've got one of the best #9's in the age group ( Wilson Cochrane ) , decent quality through the midfield with TGS's #12, Bailey Skeats one of the last man standing after the mass exodus of GPS 12's in this age group now headed to the 6 and 8 spots - some playing GPS First XV in the back row from Grade 11 - considerably harder to do that in the GPS Comp
Good solid forwards , Country Strong , up this way ( duh ) with Hamish Muller likely an U16 starter at lock or 6 in TGS's First XV this year
Met East ( projected 3rd to 4th to 5th )
In short , too many ball runners and not enough on ballers
They'll have muscle and power via BSHS's Linston Tuimavave and Alapati Soaolo upfront ( although I am sure there will be a temptation to run one of these guys at 8 ) , a work horse with good size in SLC's Angus Sawtell at the 2 and some muscle coming through in the age group below as well . Villa's Lucas Boylan gives a solid set piece target in the lineouts - but outside of Churchie's Aidan King there really isn't a lot of attack on the ball . The BSHS guys are more run first types and tackle defenders . Wian Joubert - another convert from #12 to the #6-#8 spot this season will give some snap and crackle with BSHS's Kai Johnstone adding the pop. Undoubted quality in the forwards but depth , and quality of depth , is a major question mark
BSHS's Moses Jones is a steady game organiser at #10 but Met East just may have the best centre pairing in BSHS's Sam Silli and Grant Tuisamoa ( if he plays 13 instead of 15 ) and Churchie's Toby Cubby , at 10 , also will be in the mix here
Villa's Robert Agnew should fly the AIC flag on a wing . Again - depth might end up being the issue
Met North ( projected 3rd to 4th )
Nudgee will have the game winners here with #10/#12 Reesjan Pasitota back as an 18 year old . They have a couple of guys in the back 3 that are capable of turning a game as finishers in Tresman Banjo and Athan Waia and Terrace's Glenn Vahiua will be back as an 18 year old - projects as a helluva back 3 . More depth with Mayson Hill also turning 18 and already turning heads early in his first year at Terrace . More support in the outside backs with Glen's younger brother David who figures to be a leading light in the 15's this year and Pat Elekana expected to win a wing spot as an U16 year old on Terrace's First XV this year (who project as a Top 3 GPS Team )
Met North will have some honest toilers upfront with MCA's Lachie McKarzel , Grammar's James Pearce and Lachie Pheely - but they will be spearheaded by Terrace's Emerson Treasure who figures to be the top ranked #1 in the age group . Padua's Jaiden Walker might be an interesting continuing project in the front row stocks , a giant of a lad that would balance Emerson Treasure out fairly well. Locks are a question mark , and frankly , a weakness in how Met North project , however SPC's Taelyn Nukunuku will be around ( probably sees himself more as an 8 ) and the versatile Angus Mackey from Nudgee College could also be in the mix here . Charlie Hayes also from Nudgee could be the one that no one sees coming but needs to come through in top company . Terrace have a couple of projects that will likely remain that way in these spots . In the loose forwards nothing much will have changed from Met North U12's with Terrace's Charlie Condon leading the way and MCA's Lachie Howse his usual consistent self . Nudgee's Centre to backrow convert Titi Nofoagoata will add some starch and Nudgee's Ronin Nutley will keep everyone honest . Nudgee's Johna Luka will be a quality floating utility that also could provide another big Prop option to balance out with Terrace's Emerson Treasure
They probably have the wood on Met East - but not enough class to take down South Coast or Met West
South Coast and Met West ( 1st to 2nd )
It's probably not really worthwhile to cover off on these 2 in much detail seeing as though there are no AIC Schools on the South Coast and South Coast is pretty much going to have circa 12 returning players from TSS's First and Seconds this year ( both teams figuring to be premiership winners ) + 2 to 3 from their 16A's this year ( Michael Van Der Schyff - being prominent as maybe the best lock in the age group ) and from their U15 Team this year ( Jojo Fijita and Syrus Smith figuring to be prominent ) The rest of it will balance out with CSS guys like Helensvale High's Chad Dinger ( Prop ) and maybe Adrian Armaeo , also Helensvale High ( Wing ) leading the way
In terms of Met West - the best #9, Kalani Thomas and best #10, Sam Walker in the age group are at IGS , the best #13 , Jack Howarth and #15 , Jack Bowyer are at BBC and you'll have at least 2 guys in the back 3 that are 10.7 to 10.9 over 100m from BBC ( JB and Xavier Savage ) with IGS also adding depth in the uber talented Kedan Chung Tan and Seamus King Smith . It is worthy to note that IGS's Ethan King - a star Queensland League Representative on multiple occasions - might just turn out to be the best midfield defender in the class of 2019. And we still haven't mentioned QLD U15 Red standouts last year - Lukas Ripley (BBC ) and Christian Krause ( IGS )- or , Gordon Mark 2 ( Mason - BBC 15A this year) or QLD League Pivot Connor Claridge ( BBC ) - although I just did
In terms of the forward pack - I'd expect SPLC's Max Hurwood will be in the back row frame and IGS will add depth via Dillon Stone , Konrad Wallace , Sam Porter , Tom Tronc , Nathan Weir and Rio Brownlow - to 5 x returning projected starters in the BBC Forward Pack - led by 2 x 18 year olds - Oscar Ruru at THP and the 6'7 Clancy Due at Left Lock. BBC figuring to be a Top 3 team this year - and with the way that way this pack set up the platform for Carter Gordon and Co in the backline to do their thing in the recent win over Otago Boys High was significant. Add to which there are a further 5 x key reserves this year - 3 of whom will also be 18 next year - so at least half of BBC's starting forward pack next year will be 18 year olds . And there hasn't even been any mention of U15 IGS manchild Xavier Stowers yet who is being made to play 16A's this year , because well .....he is a man child
Summary
If the drive of this has been all about giving the minority regions a fairer shake at the selection table , frankly , it has decreased their opportunities
For example - by not consolidating the talent out of the regions into a CSS team - the individual regions will get bollocked , whereas , they would have fared better as a team with consolidated talent .
Same with the AIC lads - outside of say 2 ( Tops ) in Met West - I can't see anymore than half a dozen in Met North and you'll probably see around about the same in Met East Overall then , and unless affirmative action choices are in play , I can't see anymore than 15 x Representatives from AIC - and obviously this is less than the 25 they had last year and the 27 they will have this year as their own team
How is this a better outcome for AIC ?
If this has been about trying to level playing fields and create fairer go's etc - it , in my view , has made it worse for AIC Boys to be seen - and whilst it may have increased the visibility for regional boys in their regional teams - with the talent not being consolidated they are going to get belted and it will be doubly as hard for any kid with talent to compete properly
This is where the concept is flawed . If it is about levelling the playing field for the minorities - it's actually going to go in the opposite direction and make it that much harder for them
