NSW AAGPS 2025 (banter and commentary)
- Thread starter Joker
- Start date
InsiderScoop
Larry Dwyer (12)
Huge shoutout to Sebastian Conna who is just 15 and played as a front rower in the 1s comp.
The Ghost of Raelene
John Eales (66)
Happy to eat my words with that!@The Ghost of Raelene.... how is that statement looking now?!
Fade me and you'll make a fortune.
The Ghost of Raelene
John Eales (66)
Both sides of the scrum in back to back weeks as well I think having played for Tancred v Shore then Osborne v Joeys.
Tbf they were outplayed in Round 1 by Newington
The Ghost of Raelene
John Eales (66)
Tbf they then outplayed them in Round 6
Ace Ventura
Darby Loudon (17)
Rory O'Connor was voted Best Back at the Joeys end-of-season dinner. Big call considering the others in that backline, but well-merited.
The Ghost of Raelene
John Eales (66)
Love that. Consistent, available and looks for work. I'll take it any day over a guy who misses every second game but has a 10s 100m time.
fortheloveofthegame
Chris McKivat (8)
O’Connor has been the one of the biggest improvers I have ever seen, U15 he wasn’t even a certainty to get selected for the A’s. U16’s saw most of his cohort move to opens a year early. First year in Opens he was stuck in the thirds. This year he was recognised as best back. He does have size and speed but he has always had those things. The more important factor is work ethic, as a distant observer i’d say he has that by the truck load.
The Ghost of Raelene
John Eales (66)
That's why he's my out of the spotlight and mouths player to watch.
Who won forward?
twister29
Bill Watson (15)
2 shore lads
Charlie “The Galitude” Galligan. Don’t think I need to explain this one. Unfortunately been injured for pretty much the whole season.
Digby Hockey. In a competitive winger position, I am still surprised he didn’t get a spot in GPS. He is the most consistent on the field for Shore aside from maybe Clout. He is a top finisher (look at the Scot’s vs Shore replay) and a hard hitter every week in as the tackler and the ball runner. Recently we saw him bump a certain Kings boy back to Parramatta… Just go back and watch any Shore game and despite the score he is anything and everything but a weak link.
Rugbynbeers
Johnnie Wallace (23)
Luke Toia.
anyone who has watched Kings the last two years with any clue about rugby would notice his work rate and effort
BananaMan
Herbert Moran (7)
You have a surprising amount of knowledge about someone you don't know well.
You have a surprising amount of knowledge about someone you don't know well.
ItsNotPink
Charlie Fox (21)
3rd XV - End of Season Report
This is my final post for the year, so I apologise that it is a bit long.
What a great finale it was to the 3rd XV season as Joeys claimed the premiership by a single point from Riverview at Hunters Hill. It was a terrific match that really could have gone either way but the Cerise & Blue prevailed to win the Col Windon Shield as Champions for the first time since 2019. Riverview finished outright second and TAS outright 3rd following excellent seasons from both teams. The final table looks like this:
Joeys 13 d Riverview 12
This was a fitting grand final for the season with both teams undefeated coming into the match. Joeys had all of the possession early and were denied two tries by Riverview’s excellent goal line defence. It wasn’t until half-way through the first half that Riverview broke the deadlock and scored a great try to lead 5-0. Joeys took a penalty right on half time to go to the break down 5-3 and it was a good decision that would prove critical to the result. Five minutes into the second half Joeys scored their first try after some well‑structured attack and then another great try with 15 minutes to go to lead 13-5. Riverview were not done, and they hit back with just three minutes to go scoring a converted try to trail by a point 13-12. The last few minutes were very tense with Riverview on the attack looking to take the lead back, but they ran out of time and Joeys took the premiership. A great contest and a tribute to both teams.
Both Joeys and Riverview have a long history of success in this 3rd XV competition, and I cannot see that changing any time soon. Both schools have great depth in the opens and strong rugby programs that will continue to produce results like this.
TAS 33 d Scots 19
TAS finished the season with their fifth win to take 3rd place outright in the competition. They had a great year and improved as the season went on. This win over Scots is typical of their great results despite the constant travel to Sydney. I think they lacked early trial opportunities to develop their combination before the season proper, as they clearly had the talent to defeat the top teams. They will continue to be competitive in this grade as long as they can get plenty of matches to develop their capabilities.
Scots had a mixed season finishing equal 4th on the table with Shore and Kings on three wins. They showed good form at times, with wins over Grammar, High and Shore, and I am sure will be regrouping next year for another crack at the 3rd XV title that they last won in 2023.
Shore 24 d Kings 12
In the battle for the middle of the table, Shore finished the season on a high note at Northbridge with a good win over Kings, ensuring that both teams finished equal 4th with Scots on the competition table on 6 points.
Shore did not have their best season, with losses to Joeys, Riverview, TAS and Scots, so they were unable to defend the Col Windon Shield that they won in 2024. Nevertheless, this was a good finish, and they will be competitive again next year I am sure, given the resurgence of the Shore rugby program.
Kings started the season in promising fashion, with three straight wins, but then had four straight losses to Riverview, Joeys, TAS and Shore. Definitely a disappointing end and I thought that they would finish higher than they did. Their loss to Riverview was a close battle at Lane Cove and then they were only beaten by a single point by Joeys the following week. Still, it’s the close games that make the difference if you are going to win the premiership.
Grammar 19 d High 5
In the battle for the wooden spoon, Grammar defeated High and claimed their first win for the season. I would have liked to see this match as I think it would have been a great contest and I note that High scored their first try in a competition match this season. To be honest, both teams face an ongoing challenge to remain competitive in this competition. They were very committed this year, but there is no substitute for the depth that the other schools have. This year in seven matches, their for and against was 39/191 (Grammar) and 8/262 (High).
Grammar won this competition in 2020, but their capability has dropped off significantly since then, and it is largely due to a lack of depth across the program. It is a great challenge for them.
High have an identical challenge to Grammar. They have worked on their program in recent years, and made some positive developments, but are struggling to remain competitive at this level, despite their great courage and determination.
I hope that both schools can continue to develop their programs and depth to remain in the 3rd XV premiership, as it is the only official AAGPS rugby competition in which they compete. Time will tell.
Well, that’s it for me this year. I trust you have enjoyed the 3rd XV commentary and look forward to contributing in 2026.
And remember… It’s Not Pink
This is my final post for the year, so I apologise that it is a bit long.
What a great finale it was to the 3rd XV season as Joeys claimed the premiership by a single point from Riverview at Hunters Hill. It was a terrific match that really could have gone either way but the Cerise & Blue prevailed to win the Col Windon Shield as Champions for the first time since 2019. Riverview finished outright second and TAS outright 3rd following excellent seasons from both teams. The final table looks like this:
Joeys 13 d Riverview 12
This was a fitting grand final for the season with both teams undefeated coming into the match. Joeys had all of the possession early and were denied two tries by Riverview’s excellent goal line defence. It wasn’t until half-way through the first half that Riverview broke the deadlock and scored a great try to lead 5-0. Joeys took a penalty right on half time to go to the break down 5-3 and it was a good decision that would prove critical to the result. Five minutes into the second half Joeys scored their first try after some well‑structured attack and then another great try with 15 minutes to go to lead 13-5. Riverview were not done, and they hit back with just three minutes to go scoring a converted try to trail by a point 13-12. The last few minutes were very tense with Riverview on the attack looking to take the lead back, but they ran out of time and Joeys took the premiership. A great contest and a tribute to both teams.
Both Joeys and Riverview have a long history of success in this 3rd XV competition, and I cannot see that changing any time soon. Both schools have great depth in the opens and strong rugby programs that will continue to produce results like this.
TAS 33 d Scots 19
TAS finished the season with their fifth win to take 3rd place outright in the competition. They had a great year and improved as the season went on. This win over Scots is typical of their great results despite the constant travel to Sydney. I think they lacked early trial opportunities to develop their combination before the season proper, as they clearly had the talent to defeat the top teams. They will continue to be competitive in this grade as long as they can get plenty of matches to develop their capabilities.
Scots had a mixed season finishing equal 4th on the table with Shore and Kings on three wins. They showed good form at times, with wins over Grammar, High and Shore, and I am sure will be regrouping next year for another crack at the 3rd XV title that they last won in 2023.
Shore 24 d Kings 12
In the battle for the middle of the table, Shore finished the season on a high note at Northbridge with a good win over Kings, ensuring that both teams finished equal 4th with Scots on the competition table on 6 points.
Shore did not have their best season, with losses to Joeys, Riverview, TAS and Scots, so they were unable to defend the Col Windon Shield that they won in 2024. Nevertheless, this was a good finish, and they will be competitive again next year I am sure, given the resurgence of the Shore rugby program.
Kings started the season in promising fashion, with three straight wins, but then had four straight losses to Riverview, Joeys, TAS and Shore. Definitely a disappointing end and I thought that they would finish higher than they did. Their loss to Riverview was a close battle at Lane Cove and then they were only beaten by a single point by Joeys the following week. Still, it’s the close games that make the difference if you are going to win the premiership.
Grammar 19 d High 5
In the battle for the wooden spoon, Grammar defeated High and claimed their first win for the season. I would have liked to see this match as I think it would have been a great contest and I note that High scored their first try in a competition match this season. To be honest, both teams face an ongoing challenge to remain competitive in this competition. They were very committed this year, but there is no substitute for the depth that the other schools have. This year in seven matches, their for and against was 39/191 (Grammar) and 8/262 (High).
Grammar won this competition in 2020, but their capability has dropped off significantly since then, and it is largely due to a lack of depth across the program. It is a great challenge for them.
High have an identical challenge to Grammar. They have worked on their program in recent years, and made some positive developments, but are struggling to remain competitive at this level, despite their great courage and determination.
I hope that both schools can continue to develop their programs and depth to remain in the 3rd XV premiership, as it is the only official AAGPS rugby competition in which they compete. Time will tell.
Well, that’s it for me this year. I trust you have enjoyed the 3rd XV commentary and look forward to contributing in 2026.
And remember… It’s Not Pink
twister29
Bill Watson (15)
Good news for TAS. @Jim Belshaw has been a brilliant gossip up north this year…
Justice T