QLD Colts 2022

[Garry Owens]

Wests v Brothers

The Heavyweight bout upfront that promises plenty of Fury -from Brothers at least. Wests forwards , 1 to 8 were completely underwhelming last week and fired no shots , in fact , in comparison , Mother Hubbard's Cupboard looks like a Sizzler's Buffet Bar.

But as the story goes , old Mother Hubbard went to the cupboard to fetch her poor dog a done , but when she got there , the cupboard was bare , and so the poor dog had none.

So no bone for the Dogs this weekend as Brothers outmuscle and out hustle upfront that allows the Brothers halves and midfield to dominate. I would expect Ryan , Tapuosi and Waia to have big days in the outside backs.

Brothers 16.5-

Easts v GPS

On the assumption that GPS have lost their starting Centres this one could get ugly. Roseanne Arnold ugly. But then again I'm not so sure.

Again, upfront , Easts have a couple of young bloods in their front row , in Max Craig (2) and Tom Zuidam (3) that supposedly have the talent but will be packing down against wily 20 year olds in James "Bam Bam" Pierce,(3) Gus "The Bus" Dillman (2) and Bad Blayke Adams (1) the latter who made a disgrace of Harry Vella's last club game in Brisbane in the Jeeps v Brothers Semi Final last year. I really like Jeeps lock Darcy Hammond and with the promise of Stuart Tualima + the usual god bothering righteous grittiness of the inevitable heavily Maristian Flankerstein backrow factory at Jeeps (matched by the industrious Wilson and Stoddart).............I'm calling the main bearing on this result coming down to who gets on top in the Top 5.

If Hudson Meyer is back at 9 for Jeeps this will be big, but , mid field is where Jeeps struggle - even against an Easts play making midfield that in the combo of it all have the vision of Stevie Wonder and the selflessness of Karen from Bunnings.

Easts should feast but won't get past the 1st course.

Easts 9.5-

UQ v Norths

UQ's forwards are a Panzer Tank division. Commanded by Ivan Drago from Rocky 4 with Clubber Lang from Rocky 3 his 2IC. Even in sunnier times now (compared to the seasons immediately past) they are a dour 11 man brand of Rugby. Not 10. 11 (on account of the fullback being the general play kicker under this 10 man style) There is a Ferrari on the wing, in Ben McMahon, that is being kept in the garage for now and the question is does anyone know how to get out on the open road to drive it ?

I gave Norths a hard time last week and the only thing I can say is there isn't a cricket pitch close to where this game will be played. So no cricket score. And certainly not with an Ivan Drago brand of Rugby.

Norths have spunk. They are spunky. They'll hang in and lay the odd sock bomb or two in the tank tracks , but UQ will just continue to over power them upfront.

UQ 18.5-

Sunnybank v Bond

Hard to know here. So I'm taking a flyer as I know nothing about Sunnybank other than the seem to have a feel good story going on with Brendan Underwood and from one trial I saw of Bond, I wasn't convinced about much.

I'm going with The Cinderella Story with Sunnybank to stick the glass slipper into Bond.

Sunnybank by 4.5-

 

[Adam84]

Interested to see how Carsen Patu goes at
Bond, and whether he plays prop or comes on in another position.

 

[Oracle83]

UQ v Norths

UQ's forwards are a Panzer Tank division. Commanded by Ivan Drago from Rocky 4 with Clubber Lang from Rocky 3 his 2IC. Even in sunnier times now (compared to the seasons immediately past) they are a dour 11 man brand of Rugby. Not 10. 11 (on account of the fullback being the general play kicker under this 10 man style) There is a Ferrari on the wing, in Ben McMahon, that is being kept in the garage for now and the question is does anyone know how to get out on the open road to drive it ?

I gave Norths a hard time last week and the only thing I can say is there isn't a cricket pitch close to where this game will be played. So no cricket score. And certainly not with an Ivan Drago brand of Rugby.

Norths have spunk. They are spunky. They'll hang in and lay the odd sock bomb or two in the tank tracks , but UQ will just continue to over power them upfront.

UQ 18.5-

Uni 19 - Norths 13

From the way I saw it if Uni maintain their complacency even though they seemed to lack speed, talent and had an atrocious kicking game they will be doing well to make the top4, for mine it was just their forwards defence that got them home as Norths lost the game by not scoring despite dominant possession and determination more than Uni won it.

For Norths George Stokes is a real talent - MOTM by a country mile with a great kicking game and a real leader in general direction of his team who can definitely make the 4 based on today form providing they can:

1 fix their lineout throwing
2 believe in themselves
3 not push their passes or kick the ball away - they have no need to play low percentage rugby as there is oodles of talent and speed in the backs and sound skills and grunt in the forwards.

Norths had two players in the bin for most of the first 13 minutes when Uni scored their first try after getting a penalty try very early.

As a Uni old boy and fan it was disappointing but an underdog supporter well done Norths.

 

[The Nomad]

Only the UQ v Norths game is signed off on, but also the only close one. The other three very one sided based on the scores posted…….

 

[Garry Owens]

Norths are the real deal.

I think the belief in themselves is just fine and their decision making and judgment, in the main, was very good - a sure sign of a well coached team.

Losing 5 or 6 of their line outs in the red zone was the killer that they couldn't overcome.

If they get a line out then they are a definite Top 3 team.

Stokes was good - interesting that the Courier Mail write up didn't mention him and correctly gave the 40/20's kicking credit to Hamish Muir. But even before the Courier Mail love, MOTM for me was easily a coin flip between North's Hamish Muir and UQ's Ben McMahon. Without McMahon's defense on his wing, Norths score at least one, maybe two more tries. Game winning defense through the 2nd half from UQ's No 11.

Now if they can just sort out how the ball gets to arguably the most electric outside back in this year's competition. There is talent there just not sure the combinations are.

You had one thing right though Oracle....the kicking was atrocious yesterday.

 

[Garry Owens]

Courier Mail's TOTW !

15. Hamish Muir (Norths)
14. Ben McMahon (UQ)
13. Will McCulloch ( Norths )
12. Ben Della Cort ( Brothers )
11. Will Johnston ( Wests )
10. Oryaan Kalolo (Easts )
9. Sam Farrar ( Easts )
8. Taine Riori (Easts)
7. Henry Wilson (Easts)
6. Leo McCarthy (Brothers)
5. Hugo Perceval (UQ)
4. Stuart Taulima (GPS)
3. Carsen Patu (Bond)
2. Christian Vidic (Easts)
1. Iafeta Maa (Bond)

Reserves :

James Caton (UQ)
Jack Condon (Brothers)
Ethan Lucey (GPS)
Taelyn Nukunuku (Norths)
Ton Twaddell (Easts)
Ethan Martyn (Bond)
Woody Gollings (Sunnybank)

 

[Oracle83]

Norths are the real deal.

I think the belief in themselves is just fine and their decision making and judgment, in the main, was very good - a sure sign of a well coached team.

Losing 5 or 6 of their line outs in the red zone was the killer that they couldn't overcome.

If they get a line out then they are a definite Top 3 team.

Stokes was good - interesting that the Courier Mail write up didn't mention him and correctly gave the 40/20's kicking credit to Hamish Muir. But even before the Courier Mail love, MOTM for me was easily a coin flip between North's Hamish Muir and UQ's Ben McMahon. Without McMahon's defense on his wing, Norths score at least one, maybe two more tries. Game winning defense through the 2nd half from UQ's No 11.

Now if they can just sort out how the ball gets to arguably the most electric outside back in this year's competition. There is talent there just not sure the combinations are.

You had one thing right though Oracle....the kicking was atrocious yesterday.

Thanks GO - happy to agree to disagree.

UQ outside backs were inept in attack and defence bar the 14 however I think he and the 15 might have been too focussed on having to maintain their disciple focussed hairdoes.

 

[DELETE ACCOUNT]

Courier Mail's TOTW !

15. Hamish Muir (Norths)
14. Ben McMahon (UQ)
13. Will McCulloch ( Norths )
12. Ben Della Cort ( Brothers )
11. Will Johnston ( Wests )
10. Oryaan Kalolo (Easts )
9. Sam Farrar ( Easts )
8. Taine Riori (Easts)
7. Henry Wilson (Easts)
6. Leo McCarthy (Brothers)
5. Hugo Perceval (UQ)
4. Stuart Taulima (GPS)
3. Carsen Patu (Bond)
2. Christian Vidic (Easts)
1. Iafeta Maa (Bond)

Reserves :

James Caton (UQ)
Jack Condon (Brothers)
Ethan Lucey (GPS)
Taelyn Nukunuku (Norths)
Ton Twaddell (Easts)
Ethan Martyn (Bond)
Woody Gollings (Sunnybank)

Are colts that are playing reggies or prems eligible to be in this totw?

 

[yes no maybe]

That’s GO - happy to agree to disagree.

UQ outside backs were inept in attack and defence bar the 14 however I think he and the 15 might have been too focussed on having to maintain their disciple focussed hairdoes.

And kicking the ball back to the opposition at every available opportunity. When will they learn, it’s hard to score tries without the ball, and just as hard for your opposition to put points on you if they don’t have it. Keeping possession equals keeping control of the game.

 

[yes no maybe]

Are colts that are playing reggies or prems eligible to be in this totw?

Not by the looks

 

[Garry Owens]

^Gotta pay that, Oracle. That's pretty good.

But then again I guess its hard to kick and run in sandals.

 

[Confucius Say]

Are colts that are playing reggies or prems eligible to be in this totw?

If this is a serious question…

How would they benchmark them? Different competition and playing with much better player in general. No opportunity for head to head comparison in the same game condition. And you take away the opportunity for the player in Colt in that position to get recognition.

How many fit this category? Probably 2-3 per club on average? The Courier can barely cover 4 Colt game let alone add 8 more Second and First grade match.

Not possible.

 

[Ruck n Maul]

Easts were pretty good yesterday, still can't help but think Tane Riori would be playing 1st grade at Wests instead of dominating us yesterday in colts. Easts colts coaches must have sold him on 'the culture' in the colts...Speaking of Wests; have they fallen off a cliff or did Brothers just have a good day out? I've said before I don't think Brothers are the formidable team they have been previously.

Pretty interested in reading the comments about the uni v norths game. I get the sense Uni's coaching still isn't great given the cattle they have, Norths are showing what an impact good coaching has at colts level, even with no 'big names'. I'd love to see Norths knock Brothers over next week. Brothers and Uni aren't tactically mastermined teams from what I've seen, but have their share of 'strike' players, where as Norths sound like they're tactically better than both depending on execution.

 

[Garry Owens]

And kicking the ball back to the opposition at every available opportunity. When will they learn, it’s hard to score tries without the ball, and just as hard for your opposition to put points on you if they don’t have it. Keeping possession equals keeping control of the game.

This is true. And such things typically come from a lack of composure which can come from a lack of ideas in set up. When there is no variance in the set up then defense comes pretty easy. Then there is no collective confidence in attack , too much pressing and poor decisions and execution.

To be fair, this year's 15 excelled at 9 last year and then in the midfield there really isn't a style, willingness or capacity to challenge the line and commit a 2nd defender to open up chances of line break assists for the outside backs. I don't think I've seen a basic unders line all year.

So when you're not really set up to run the ball or play make wide ....and for why I don't know when you have a V8 Forward Pack that can give you as much front foot ball as you want to take some liberty with your shape .......I guess without real purpose the aimlessness builds up and the end result is the end result. I guess if you think you can't do anything with the ball you don't mind giving it away.

But it isn't correct to say there isn't some talent or speed there that with a shake up would be putting their share of points on the board

 

[Cancelled Account]

If this is a serious question…

How would they benchmark them? Different competition and playing with much better player in general. No opportunity for head to head comparison in the same game condition. And you take away the opportunity for the player in Colt in that position to get recognition.

How many fit this category? Probably 2-3 per club on average? The Courier can barely cover 4 Colt game let alone add 8 more Second and First grade match.

Not possible.

Did you like the response? I think he just wants to know if his son’s name is going to be flashing in lights

 

[Oracle83]

Yes it is serious you f%#$%in muppet.

the representative selectors have to do it ie kids in colts and prems all over the country so some people do have enough noise to compare skill sets

Now now - I’m with Confucius myself & keen to hear if rep selectors are there week in, week out which would surprise me - I guess Courier must run off coaches or clubs comments to do what they are and I believe it’s great for kids n supporters as it is.

 

[yes no maybe]

This is true. And such things typically come from a lack of composure which can come from a lack of ideas in set up. When there is no variance in the set up then defense comes pretty easy. Then there is no collective confidence in attack , too much pressing and poor decisions and execution.

To be fair, this year's 15 excelled at 9 last year and then in the midfield there really isn't a style, willingness or capacity to challenge the line and commit a 2nd defender to open up chances of line break assists for the outside backs. I don't think I've seen a basic unders line all year.

So when you're not really set up to run the ball or play make wide ....and for why I don't know when you have a V8 Forward Pack that can give you as much front foot ball as you want to take some liberty with your shape .......I guess without real purpose the aimlessness builds up and the end result is the end result. I guess if you think you can't do anything with the ball you don't mind giving it away.

But it isn't correct to say there isn't some talent or speed there that with a shake up would be putting their share of points on the board

100% agree, however when you think there’s nothing to do with the ball perhaps carry it into contact as close to support as possible don’t just forfeit possession. 9 times out of ten, if your attack is scrambling your defence won’t be any better

 

[Garry Owens]

Easts were pretty good yesterday, still can't help but think Tane Riori would be playing 1st grade at Wests instead of dominating us yesterday in colts. Easts colts coaches must have sold him on 'the culture' in the colts...Speaking of Wests; have they fallen off a cliff or did Brothers just have a good day out? I've said before I don't think Brothers are the formidable team they have been previously.

Pretty interested in reading the comments about the uni v norths game. I get the sense Uni's coaching still isn't great given the cattle they have, Norths are showing what an impact good coaching has at colts level, even with no 'big names'. I'd love to see Norths knock Brothers over next week. Brothers and Uni aren't tactically mastermined teams from what I've seen, but have their share of 'strike' players, where as Norths sound like they're tactically better than both depending on execution.

Maybe there was room for one of Taine Riori or Keynan Taukilaupa at Wests? You wouldn't think there is a one circumstance fits all consideration , but , if you are going to compete and try and win a Prem Grade premiership , you are probably not going to do with 2 x 20 year old 6/8's playing their 1st year of Senior Rugby and especially if they aren't a Harry Wilson type talent (and they are not)

Norths are smart and they probably didn't expect to win for the first 10m and it showed with an early 12-0 result against . UQ maintained a forward rage for another 10m or so but losing the impressive Charlie Wigan (2) who was carving it up upfront really was a momentum changer. I know the scribes have their ID'd players and there are those on the Coaches list who they give to the scribes , but no joke , UQ's Jonathan Burnett (7) is a dead set ballin. Others will get more love in dispatches but I'd take this guy in a heartbeat. Right up the backside of the ball carrier in maintaining the drive , carries hard himself for constant game line advantage , tackles like a mad banshee and is disciplined in playing or not playing the ball on the ground. Anyway .....outside of North's moral victory yesterday ( unfortunately no points for that) I think they can definitely stick it to Brothers next week, although, they have to bring it from the get go. And try and fix their line out. Their scrum is good enough though , and Brothers have question marks over theirs after they got dismantled by UQ upfront.

Yeah I wouldn't have thought Wests copped it as much as they did but clearly Brothers owned them in the forwards which gave their backs plenty of opportunity to have some fun.

Sounds like Easts completely dominated GPS in the forward battle , which together with Jeeps midfield missing , led to an avalanche of tries through the backs. They seem to have a lot of really good young talent at Tiger land with big wraps on the Churchie foursome of Henry Wilson , Sam Farrar , Max Craig ( didn't play ) and George Stoddart and Villa's rangy Tom Twaddell

In the early running it looks like Easts, Norths and Brothers with UQ in at the 4th spot. South and Bond in behind for the challenge at 4.

 

[Garry Owens]

The Courier Mail writes about the players playing the Colts competition.

I think all followers of the game at Club are aware of a 19 or 20 year old playing Premier Grade Rugby. It is a very good achievement for a player of this age to be doing that , and clearly , they are young fellas with some good prospects.

More importantly , and beyond what any of us think , I am 100% certain that the people who need to know who they are - know them and are keeping tabs on them. If they are playing Prems their games are obviously available for viewing

The majority of them are in the Junior Wallabies anyway but even if they aren't and they don't qualify for U19 Rep the best thing they can do is just keep piling up the proof in Prems and trust the process. On recent evidence over the last 2 or 3 years it does work.

 

[Confucius Say]

Yes it is serious you f%#$%in muppet.

the representative selectors have to do it ie kids in colts and prems all over the country so some people do have enough noise to compare skill sets