FlashFlanker
Herbert Moran (7)
hey all first time post.
I have a child that is finishing his schooling at IGS this year (no he does not play rugby) and have a mate who is a teacher at state high as well as one of my own siblings that teach at churchie.
As i see it the IGS rugby program is under achieving. The playing group is not all to fond of the coaches and the way in which they coach. A lot of the boys are fed up with losing their spots in the A team or first to imports.
BSHS boys are sick of the almost unfair playing field. Not only does the school not have the ability to import boys from around the country but also the boys that do find their way to school for rugby can not repeat and do a sport. There is a big difference between a 18 yer old man and a sixteen year old boy and this was demonstrated in the game against TSS. I find it to be unfair for the coach who has speculation circling that he may lose his coaching spot because he doesnt have the access to the ability that other coachers have at their finger tips.
I think it has little to do with age. Yes BSHS have a young team but as we are constantly reminded BBC has now 14 of the players who have played this year in Grade 11 or 10. With David Eagle and Graham Noon's departure they lost coaches who had immense rugby knowledge and people skills. They were draw cards to potential rugby players.
BSHS have always had an U12 selection process where candidates for merit entry were identified. In the 2011 Grade 8 entry I believe 32 rugby players were identified and a significant number have since left. Why?
Through the Sunnybank connection BSHS seem to have seen a stream of young players flow their way. Looking at the successful schools there is a significant talent pool outside Brisbane who come to board at historically the more successful schools where they can be immersed in the special feeling of a member of their school culture and the important place rugby has in the school.
There is no doubt that if your school has an Emtage or Gardner, a Connellan or David Miles, a Tom Barker or Philpotts, these name coaches are a magnet to talented players but many parents are also looking to a type of education as well.
It seems GPS schools have lots of challenges to get everything right and maybe luck has a bit to do with it too, but Nudgee should patent the system that has delivered their 40th Premiership.