There are some quality locks around this year, the favourite is all the way down in GPS 3 and the other two Queensland U16 representatives are in GPS 2. It's hard not to question the selectors decisions but there are certainly a few head scratches going on right now.
My GPS team's summary:
-BBC have been repaid for years of missing out and would certainly have to be among the title favourites based on representatives. Perhaps they are overrepresented, I would argue so, but you can't doubt they have some quality players there. Depth will certainly be an issue but with their back three they will be able to cause serious damage and points won't be an issue, question mark will be over their 9 & 10 and could be their Achilles heel when they come up against quality backs. I'll give them a top 4 finish, possibly even 1st if a few results go their way.
- NC have dominated the forwards but look weak in the backs with the exception of the Tuttle bros. They have plenty of representatives but not the spread that they would want, backs could be a real issue if Tuttle's injury is as bad as first thought. I can't see them winning it but a top 3 finish is realistic.
- ACGS seem to have a solid spine but have nothing in the pigs, they could be in real trouble come scrum time against NC, BBC, TSS and IGS. That being said, their 9-10 combination is the best in the competition and their back row looks lethal. Still the team to beat based on depth and number of GPS 1 representatives, anything other than 1st would be considered an unsuccessful season.
- TGS look well rounded but lack any real threats in the outside backs, they are the darkhorse team for mine. Will dominate lesser teams in the breakdown but will have their work cut out for them against ACGS, NC and BBC. They will need to find a solid 10 in the trials and quickly. Top 4 team in my opinion and on their day could go as high as 2nd.
- GT have increased from 1 GPS representative in 2011 to 5 but still don't look title contenders. Other than Dalgleish they lack any real stars in the back line and will probably struggle to score as many points as others. I like the quality in the forwards though and blokes like Mellor and Harlow can't be underestimated. I still can't see them finishing above 7th.
- IGS look real shaky apart from Pleash and Tela, although we do know Preen and Takau can single-handedly take teams apart. I won't write them off just yet but they will be heavily relying on Hayes and Tela to set up their outside backs. Points could be an issue, not to mention the lack of a 9-10 combination and no real dominant player present at the breakdowns. I'd have them in the fight for the spoon probably between 6-8, they will string a few wins together.
- BGS have real quality in the back three and a few standouts in the forwards but could be in for a long season. We all know Greene won't miss with the boot but they could struggle to get points on the board through the midfield and their pigs aren't really setting the world on fire. Cornelson could arguably be higher, so too Radford and Blackhurst. Real quality players. They could probably finish as high as 5th and as low as 8th.
- TSS have really mounted their case as title contenders and I think they could probably have a few guys higher up in those teams, particularly Third and Cooney. They look well rounded and have an established 10 and midfield combination, will really need Tarr to hold the scrum together though. I'd have them between 4th-7th as a few injuries could really derail their season.
- BSHS should feel disapointed with just 1 player in the first two teams, no surprise it is their captain. Only 3 blokes will pull on GPS rep jerseys and that has to be a worry for their title ambitions. They have a real tendency to fall off if a few early results don't go their way and we could see the demise of BSHS rugby this year if they mentally don't show up early on. It will be a long season for them and based on the rep teams, they will be down the bottom of the table come round 9, that's not to say they won't get a win or two and they could quite easily finish between 5th-8th.
9. BSHS
8. GT
7. IGS
6. BGS
5. TSS
4. TGS
2. NC
2. BBC
1. ACGS