QLD Premier Rugby 2025

[SouthernX]

Souths has a pretty good Friday night rugby team

seen some household names in it. CFS, Timu etc.

some boys just want to avoid training, pay their subs(or skirt the admin person) and have a Friday night hit out before they carpe diem weekend.

Saturday rugby is a bigger commitment. Tuesday and Thursday nights and you miss out on Friday night parties if you play grades.

 

[Brisbane Rugby Runner]

Yes, I think depth might be an issue. Souths just put out a call across their media and Socials for extra players for 3rd & 4th grade. Inviting players to training tomorrow night and trials against Wests on Saturday.

Warhorse, I don’t think I can remember a time in the last 30+ years that Souths have not had a very good lower grade set up. 4th grade at Souths is an institution.

A friend on mine within the club has said things changed when GM took over from TD. TD & his coaching group, from their point was about growing the club and talent & Morgan came in and stripped it all back to focus on one teams success.
This is not a great day for Souths as a club regardless of how their top team does in their first trial against a undermanned Norths outfit.

 

[warhorse]

Warhorse, I don’t think I can remember a time in the last 30+ years that Souths have not had a very good lower grade set up. 4th grade at Souths is an institution.

A friend on mine within the club has said things changed when GM took over from TD. TD & his coaching group, from their point was about growing the club and talent & Morgan came in and stripped it all back to focus on one teams success.
This is not a great day for Souths as a club regardless of how their top team does in their first trial against a undermanned Norths outfit.

Yes very disappointing that a bit over a week out from the first competition games Souths are calling for players for a 3rd grade. Never, in my 55 years association with Souths, have they ever struggled for players for 3rd grade.
It was only 2022 that Souths had 2nds, 3rds, 4ths, 5ths & 6ths in the Finals. What a slide!

 

[LevitatingSocks]

Any idea what the issue is?

2+ grades worth of players don't disappear without cause.

 

[PhilClinton]

Making the club all about one team is shortsighted even in regard to looking after 1st grade.

Highly unlikely to go through a season without needing to dip into the stocks of the lower grades.

In my final year of coaching at GPS, we had two blokes who started in 4th grade and ended up being Premier Grade starters in a team which made finals.

From an outsider view, it seems a lot of the issues at Norths over the years have been due to lack of depth throughout the club. They've always had a couple of handy blokes in 1sts and even 2nds but when injuries hit, the players simply aren't good enough in the lower grades to make an impact up higher. Souths in danger of that same issue.

 

[oldrugbytragic]

I think the problem at Souths may not just be about 2 grades worth of players disappearing. Colts graduation into grades will generally fill your grades teams with fresh blood each year to replace the inevitable attrition of retiring players. Colts 1 fill Premier Grade, Reserves and a bit of 3rds. Colts 2 down tend to fill 3rd grade and lower. Souths seem to have lost an enormous amount of their colts from last year. A lot have followed the binned coaches across to Wests but they seem to be littered across all the other QPR clubs as well. This along with number of grades leaving for other clubs has become a perfect storm here. I played against Souths in 5th Grade a number of years ago and whilst there were some serious skullduggery at the bottom of rucks, they were a very formidable team with some old heads that have played there for years. The Souths 4th Grade team had one of the most successful runs in a lower grade team for many years. To go from that to where they are now seems like there are more problems than just player numbers at the Magpies. I do know that there will be some younger players in lower grades round the competition breathing a sigh of relief at the thought of not having to play some of those gents from Annerley.

@warhorse is there more light you can shed on this?

 

[The Engine Room]

Souths has a pretty good Friday night rugby team

seen some household names in it. CFS, Timu etc.

some boys just want to avoid training, pay their subs(or skirt the admin person) and have a Friday night hit out before they carpe diem weekend.

Saturday rugby is a bigger commitment. Tuesday and Thursday nights and you miss out on Friday night parties if you play grades.

I always thought this "stacked" team was ridiculous and while I get it to a point it did little for the graded competition and retaining young players who opted to spend their time somewhere else than getting smashed by a former professional player, whose ego still needed boosting, and being whipped by 50 points. This where the "governance" of the competition needs greater scrutiny. 4th grade used to be the avenue for "former greats" to retire gracefully and mentor young players coming into grades. I recall UQ did this very successfully back in the early 90's.

 

[PhilClinton]

You're never going to have any type of governance which says former professionals or 'good players' can't play in lower grades. I might have played 1st grade last year but this year due to family commitments I can't train, which means I end up in 5ths just to stay at the club. You can't ban those types of players.

Souths aren't the only one to do it, lots of the subbies clubs are stacked, GPS had a number of stacked teams throughout the years with genuine 1st graders playing 4ths/5ths/6ths, Wests have the Black Dogs, Brothers have the Fire Ants etc. All of them are usually stacked teams, depending how good depends on the year.

 

[SouthernX]

another benefit of having a Good Friday night program is - once these retired has been round their cardio requirements into shape at the midway point some of them get the itch to backup on Saturdays and you’ll sometime see a random former premier player turning up for a 9am game

im sure souths will be making the call for their 3rd grade playoff run from the souths Friday night team should they qualify

 

[Interested Viewer]

Looks Like Souths have 4th grade

 

[oldrugbytragic]

I always thought this "stacked" team was ridiculous and while I get it to a point it did little for the graded competition and retaining young players who opted to spend their time somewhere else than getting smashed by a former professional player, whose ego still needed boosting, and being whipped by 50 points. This where the "governance" of the competition needs greater scrutiny. 4th grade used to be the avenue for "former greats" to retire gracefully and mentor young players coming into grades. I recall UQ did this very successfully back in the early 90's.

Ridiculous comment. Most clubs have players that are above the standard of which they are playing roll out each week. It happens. Should someone that has played professional football not play again? I believe this Friday night team had one player that was a former professional player. Not quite sure what governance you would recommend.

I remember Radike Samo throwing on a GPS jersey a few years back and recall Pat Howard playing lower grade for Uni.

Maybe young players get a kick out of testing themselves against a former pro and those I think the "ego boost" reference is way off the mark. Most I have seen in the past do it for the love of the game. There are plenty of former 1st grade players running around in social grades for a variety of reason but I don't believe the ego boost is one of them.

 

[The Whisperer]

Looks Like Souths have 4th grade

I have an inkling that is that the 4th grade side will double up and play 3rd grade from what I am told….

 

[tig]

You're never going to have any type of governance which says former professionals or 'good players' can't play in lower grades. I might have played 1st grade last year but this year due to family commitments I can't train, which means I end up in 5ths just to stay at the club. You can't ban those types of players.

Souths aren't the only one to do it, lots of the subbies clubs are stacked, GPS had a number of stacked teams throughout the years with genuine 1st graders playing 4ths/5ths/6ths, Wests have the Black Dogs, Brothers have the Fire Ants etc. All of them are usually stacked teams, depending how good depends on the year.

I can remember, a long time ago, playing fourth grade against a GPS team that had eight or nine players who had played for Queensland. They were finished with serious rugby, and just wanted a run.

Mind you, some of them had played for Queensland when Queensland were not very good.

 

[Brisbane Rugby Runner]

The sad predicament Souths find them in with not having the numbers to fill a 3rd & 4th Grade teams is disappointing. The reality is that this was avoidable, but the club has been extremely divided for a number of years now. Since Morgan arrived originally as head coach of Prems then shimmed himself into the development of Rugby roll, more pay for him?? The colts program over the last 3 years was nothing short of excellent Colts teams in finals and won colts 1 last year. Morgan would not & could not fathom that a far superior coach was in the club and extremely well received by players in both colts and senior grades. In a nut shell Morgan was threatened and and advised the colts coaches mid 2024 there services were not required. Hence they the Colts went on to win the GF. The fact that Morgan fired Colts coaches and the board endorsed the decision shows how much control Morgan has and the lack of direction from the front office at Souths. Apart from colts the other grades were all well down the pecking order last year as the rot was setting in during 2024.

As soon as players knew the Colts coaches had chosen a new club the writing was on the wall for a mass player exit, Morgan underestimated how popular the colts coaches were and Morgan's popularity is a touch on the nose for both players and supporters.

Morgan has surrounded himself with a bunch of puppets there only job is to ensure he gets what he wants at all costs, person strategically placed on the board to block or report on unfavourable decisions. Souths missed a unique opportunity in 2024 when a group high profile, successful businessmen who were Souths people wanted to implement change across the whole club. Morgan manoeuvred his puppets to get this opportunity blocked. Short sighted from him as the changes and governance would of made his job a lot easier and had a lot more resource's at his disposal.
Morgan has certainly polarised the Souths community some of his antics have been nothing short of bitterly disappointing for and ex Wallaby and player at the club.

Before you all start throwing assumptions, I've done my research, I've been at the club seen one ugly incident the board swept under the carpet, and aware of many more. I was also a life long supporter of the club, with several family members and relatives who played for the club. The joint is Broken!!

Maybe the club should of asked for references from his previous employer word is they were happy to see him go, not just for the rugby but the baggage that comes with having him on your books.

Souths in pain for a few years now, had finally got the Colts program is order with great coaches....... but that one person who felt threatened has destroyed it for everyone.

Porridgelover, you seem to confirm what I have been told, that Souths have lost their way a little.

Good coaches being sacked or told they are not welcome (Colts 1 & Reggie’s Coach) all because they were bought in with TD, successful & popular with the playing group is a bad sign.

Not to mention the board sweeping behavior by staff under the rug to keep the peace. Seems like it is all coming home to roost now.

It appears the Magpies have some work to do.

 

[PhilClinton]

I’ve said it a number of times over the last year, I’m not involved with South’s but I know there is a big chunk of sponsor money which will walk out the door if GM was given marching orders or had his powers reduced.

That is an issue which no doubt will complicate matters for the club if things don’t work out.

 

[Bulldog]

Doubles and Camo will be turning in their graves.

 

[warhorse]

The word is out that Garrick Morgan, last night, without any pre-notice to players, stepped down as Souths Prems Head Coach. What a s#@t show at Souths.
Indeed, poor "Doubles" Daley and Ian "Camo" Cameron will be turning in their graves.
The once great Club of the late '80's and the decade of the 90's is sinking before our eyes.

 

[PhilClinton]

The word is out that Garrick Morgan, last night, without any pre-notice to players, stepped down as Souths Prems Head Coach. What a s#@t show at Souths.
Indeed, poor "Doubles" Daley and Ian "Camo" Cameron will be turning in their graves.
The once great Club of the late '80's and the decade of the 90's is sinking before our eyes.

Woweeee that is huge!

Do you know if Morgan was stepping down at just Prems Coach but remaining at the club?

 

[warhorse]

Woweeee that is huge!

Do you know if Morgan was stepping down at just Prems Coach but remaining at the club?

I don't have any knowledge of what his plans are.

 

[Brisbane Rugby Runner]

The word is out that Garrick Morgan, last night, without any pre-notice to players, stepped down as Souths Prems Head Coach. What a s#@t show at Souths.
Indeed, poor "Doubles" Daley and Ian "Camo" Cameron will be turning in their graves.
The once great Club of the late '80's and the decade of the 90's is sinking before our eyes.

Surely he was not the only one to let it get to this point. The board and his henchman (who I’m also told was a huge problem) need to hold a level of accountability for where this club has stumbled to under their combined watch.

This will take years to correct.