ARU Junior Gold Cup - National Junior Championships

[Old Red]

Who off to Ballymore today?
Couple of cracking games on, Brisbane White take on the big guns Gold Coast, followed by Brisbane Blue V Gold in what should be a epic clash.
Going to go with Sunny on Gold Coast should be to big up front to handle all game, and geez maybe Gold on the back of their tough defense they have shown so far.
Really both should be close, tough games and very entertaining, good luck lads.

 

[Mr_Trash]

That's unlucky, was asked on Friday night why he's not playing by some of the locals, now we know. Saw him with the forwards before the game and he was tackling and getting in there, must be close to returning?

From what I hear he may be okay for WA if not that then the finals.

 

[Sunny]

Fantastic game today both teams should be proud of their efforts, in what was a bone jarring affair, Brisbane White come out winners 29 to 26 over a gallant Gold Coast.

 

[Mr_Trash]

Certainly a fantastic game with lots of ebbs and flows of momentum. Gold Coast fought well after two quick tries in the second half and certainly didn't give up. White defended well in the last five minutes especially being one down due to injury. How much wil GC have left for WA on Wednesday night?

 

[Garry Owens]

Maybe not boilovers this afternoon but I will go with a couple of potboilers

I'm sure the fair Prince will give that one to me .

White and Gold Coast - helluva game. It promised to be the battle of the 7's and it was indeed a bell ringer with both boys stamping their mark on the game. White 12 , for me , has been the form midfielder of the tournament and today he didn't disappoint . White 9 is the goods and both White 10 and replacement White 10 ( 22?) did good things

GC 15 repeated his individual brilliance from the first game against Logan with a kick / chase regather and try. GC 17 a handful and really stood up down the stretch when the game was on the line. GC 6 probably doesn't get enough of a wrap that he deserves

White set piece under pressure from GC who challenged well

Blue and Gold - Gold deserving winners . Gold 12 and 14 genuine difference makers . 8 too. And solid line out work when it matteres by Gold 4 . Great work from Blue 13 to get them back into it - great individual effort

 

[Christian Cullen]

can someone confirm that it can come down to points for and against because seems the players have been told if 2 teams are on same points the winners of that game go through & points for and against don't come into play?

They were told order is...

if 2 teams on same points it will be the winner of the 2 teams & if the result was a draw then points for & against?

Sounds odd but would make sense with so much rotating players so teams aren't out to just score big points & give every player opportunities.

Todays result

Gold 22 vs Blue 19


White had a very hard fought win against Gold Coast but Gold Coast couldn't manage to cross the line even with the last 4 minutes of ball & several chances just inches from the line. White won by 3 & wonder if Gold Coast had their time over again they would have taken the shot at Goal for the Draw?

 

[Garry Owens]

can someone confirm that it can come down to points for and against because seems the players have been told if 2 teams are on same points the winners of that game go through & points for and against don't come into play?

They were told order is.

if 2 teams on same points it will be the winner of the 2 teams & if the result was a draw then points for & against?

Sounds odd but would make sense with so much rotating players so teams aren't out to just score big points & give every player opportunities.

it's on the previous page if you want to have a look

 

[Sunny]

From what I hear he may be okay for WA if not that then the finals.

Your on the money, overheard he is clear to play and will take his place for the WA game.

 

[Rugby follower]

I'm calling White from Pool D and Gold from Pool C

The winner of Gold v Blue on Sunday will likely determine Pool C and maybe not in the most just way.

Pool C

If Gold beat Blue and Ipswich beat Sunshine Coast by more than 15 (likely) than Gold and Ipswich will finish on equal points on the top of the table , yet, Gold will go through to the Semi Final because they won the pool match against Ipswich ( by 1 point and with Ipswich controlling nearly two thirds of territory and possession for the game - yes, that is Ipswich's fault that they didn't move the ball as they should have , and no despite the pluck of Gold's D , it was more a function of hero "O" and off key ball movement when it was too late )

Gold simply have more depth than Blue that rely on too few. It is extremely unlikely that Gold do Blue by more than 15 ( or vice versa ) and so Pool C , IMO , will finish with Gold and Ipswich tied - with Gold to go through

Blue have to win each of their last 2 x games to win the division outright - even though they will have 1 x loss , the same as Ipswich ( presuming Ipswich beat Sunshine Coast ) and notwithstanding the fact that Ipswich beat them - they will go through by having 1 x extra bonus point given that they have lost by 7 and under and won by 3 tries or more ( 15 points minimum ) - 2 times

In terms of the Bonus Points , I note with interest , that other teams in the Pool had to take on NQ in FNQ on a day trip and in stinking hot/humid conditions that included players fainting , yet , Gold and Blue had NQ in the cool of early evening at Ballymore . Yes , Gold were ambushed in the first game of NQ's road trip - but Blue got them delivered on a plate on the 3rd game in 3 days and got the win and the bonus point

Hmmmmm.

The only chances Ipswich have of going through to the Semi is if

A : Blue win on Sunday but lose the following week to the Darling Downs
B. This Sunday's result between Blue and Gold is a Tie.

Pool D

With 2 x losses I don't think Logan can go through and I think White will knock them out of the running in their match up tonight - White simply have too much class and depth. The only real question mark I have on White is whether they have enough gas in the outside backs against the top end of the competition

I can't see WA winning 4 games out of 5 in such a concentrated period

So it's going to come down to White and Gold Coast and I'd give it to White - although I'd expect it to be pretty close

White v Gold in the Semi Final match up in 2 weeks

 

[Rugby follower]

I'm calling White from Pool D and Gold from Pool C

GO you are on fire, extremely accurate prediction of games today. White still to play WA however just about everything else was spot on. Depth really helped Gold today, rotated a lot of kids however the team didnt really miss a beat. Well done!!!

 

[Rugby follower]

some sticky fingers on the typewriter tonight however I think people will get what I am trying to say. GO picked both games to a T.

 

[Christian Cullen]

Cheers thanks for that and great read, I wasn't sure how it would work as some comps work on points for and against before results between the 2 teams & was Just hoping to Confirm 100%.

 

[Christian Cullen]

Confirmed, well done Gold u15 Team & Coaching staff, enjoy your week off & good luck to White this coming weekend.

 

[Sunny]

Certainly a fantastic game with lots of ebbs and flows of momentum. Gold Coast fought well after two quick tries in the second half and certainly didn't give up. White defended well in the last five minutes especially being one down due to injury. How much wil GC have left for WA on Wednesday night?

I'm sure on their home turf they will go all out, they are a tough outfit and no doubt Brissy White wouldn't mind the Coast knocking off WA
Yer really should be another cracking game and the WA lads are well prepared for their world wind tour of Qld.

 

[Garry Owens]

You'd have to expect GC will be ready to throw everything and the kitchen sink against WA on Wednesday.

They got to use their back 3 a bit more once they get their opponent on the back foot

And I don't mean their back row who seem to be stifling some ball movement when it's time to rip

Their 15 is special and their wings are more than handy

 

[Garry Owens]

2's and 10's don't seem to have run away stand outs ( from the rest of their counter part match ups at least from what I can tell )

Anyone got any views on this ?

And any parents of 2's or 10's need not respond

 

[Willie-John McBride]

I hear there's a bit of competition for the 10 job in White, a nudgee boy who has a pretty strong pass, good vision and good in the ruck and a terrace boy who really good at kicking, great pass, good vision and strong tackler. The nudgee boy had a good game against Logan, and the terrace boy was on the bench but has been showing potential. It will be interesting who they select for the Coast and WA

Welcome to rep footy, that's how it goes unfortunately what observers like yourself may think a boy is strong at means very little, the coach may see something completely different to what we all see, it doesn't make the boy any less of a footballer it just means that in the "coaches opinion" he likes the way this boy passes or the way this boy runs....another coach may see the two players differently...its an opinion that's all it is and the coach is entitled to run with whoever he believes will help get the team an outcome. That's footy

 

[Garry Owens]

FWIW I like the crispness of White Nudgee 10's passing game and he seems a bit more mercurial . White Terrace 10 really impressed me with his game management and control when he came on yesterday . Seems more an old fashioned 10 - and that's not a knock . In a game and across the age group more generally where game Intel and smarts under pressure are found wanting at times .......a lad that has an old head on young shoulders is worth something.

 

[Willie-John McBride]

I think you are 100% right re players numbers. 28 too many. This is suppose to be elite reps for these juniors not local rugby where you give everyone a run.

The coach cannot win, if they give everyone a run, and in doing so, do not have the strongest team on the park and the team gets beat, well the parents of the strongest players are whinging as to why the strongest team not on the park, along with the players, and subjected to the taunts . the coach don't know what he doing !

However, if the coach keeps the strongest players on the field and does not give the replacements fair game time then the coach is crucified by the replacements parents for not giving their kids time on the paddock.

Its not about elite reps as mentioned earlier in this thread or else many of the players not participating would be there, and have a look at the Brisbane JGC teams there are boys there that are quite honestly out of their depth. Hence they are not being played.

Its always been about the $$$$, they need to carry 28 to cover that cost, some kids will come out of this with a nice rep kit and some will come out of this with great playing experience some will come out of this and change to another sporting code

 

[Garry Owens]

^

Agree with all that WJMcB

In terms of depth and class I reckon that most objective observers can figure it out

Still , a little disingenuous perhaps , for it to be dressed up one way and applied in another

Confusion in the proposition at the front end and on the way through because of the money issue

But then I doubt buckets are being made but it's more about tying to reach and grow regionally / nationally and the multi layers of cost - all relating back to Brett Papworth's article whereby the customers / stakeholders at the coal face get grass rooted