On TSS....
- Having an extra week to prepare is an advantage not a disadvantage in the lead up to a season such as this
- Flyhalf , Syris Schmidt won a GPS Premiership as a 16 year old joining only 3 other 16 year old #10’s to have done that over the last 40 odd years ( Lynagh , Flatley , and BSHS 2016’s Issac Crone )
-Jojo Fifita probably was THE difference maker down the stretch v BBC last year and proved he was the best Rugby back in the competition ( maybe tied with Hamish Roberts ) And he’s back.
-Add Caleb Ngamanu into that mix and they just own the critical match ups against who will be competing against them.
- Their biggest trump card will be their Coaches assuming Mike Wallace and Grant Andersen are back.
- The big unknown will be how well have they recruited the holes that have been left by Blake , Nongorr , Blyth and Lyndon ?
On Churchie ....
- Together with BSHS ( but probably moreso ) - the biggest sleeper teams of this year’s Comp
- Churchie consistently produce some of the best set piece platforms in the Comp - and this year they have genuine maturing quality. They figure to also have some of the best ball pressure and defense in the competition in their back row which also extends to their likely No 9 , Henry Wilson , who might end up being the best defender in the Comp this year
-They are going to have some size and power through their midfield in Larsen Dale-Doyle and Lazlo Sword and throw utility , Sam Farrar into the mix at 15 or 10 and they will have more than enough in their backline to cause problems off the back of a dominant forward pack against their more fancied opponents.
-The way I see it ...they will definitely beat 1 of , if not 2 of , BBC , NC or TSS
On TGS ....
- They will come close to matching Churchie as having the best set piece and ball pressure platforms in the Comp and so should have more than their fair share of ball that their halves , returnees , Wilson Cochrane and Dane Shadlow will be able to try and do something with. The big question is will they have the options outside them to capitalise ?
On BSHS ......
- The best U16 class in the Comp that will prop them up but may not be really ready to challenge yet despite having the capacity to cause a major upset or two.
-Major cultural / positional shift in play that needed to happen and DOR , Dan Ritchie and Head Coach , Michael Lucas are first class and will produce quality Schoolboy Rugby players in time . Look out y’all ....High are a comin.