I not sure colts numbers are down at Gps this season?, there fielding a colts 4 team this year to play in Thursday night competition
QLD Premier Rugby 2025
- Thread starter Coleman Rees
- Start date
PhilClinton
Paul McLean (56)
Interesting - one of the grades coaches told me the numbers were lacking in colts so maybe he was wrong.
Im assuming the Thursday night is a subbies comp? Is the GPS side all just GPS players or is a merger team? There was chat about a couple of the subbies club teams in grades merging with the lower grades sides as they’re all struggling but still have people keen to play.
Dabu
Herbert Moran (7)
GPS have got a Colts 4 team
Punter Pete
Frank Row (1)
I’m not sure what you mean about low senior numbers most clubs apart from bond & souths have a 5th grade and not sure about sunnybank. wests have 7mens grades and 5 colts and lower grades having to carry fresh reserves just so everyone can get some game time.
PhilClinton
Paul McLean (56)
Souths, Norths and Bond don’t have 5ths teams and the GPS 5ths team is on the ropes.
That’s pretty dire particularly for South’s and GPS.
I’m not sure what is going on with Normanby Cup this year either. It wasn’t that long ago that GPS, Wests, Brothers and Easts took turns winning that competition but those days seem to be gone. I’m not sure if those clubs all even have 6ths anymore?
I’m sure some of the posters here are current players or much younger than me and maybe won’t have noticed the changes but even aside from the alleged stats this year reflecting the decreased numbers, the quality of the lower grades games I’ve seen so far this season is pretty average compared to previous years.
I know down at GPS you’d usually get a spattering of former 1st graders running around from 2nds - 5ths but that seems to have died down as well over the last few years.
PhilClinton
Paul McLean (56)
There has been a huge drop in numbers. Most of the guys running around in that team have played Friday nights the last couple of seasons but now in 5ths as no depth.
oldrugbytragic
Stan Wickham (3)
At GPS last year, a lot of the Friday night team played 5ths as well as they were low on numbers. I have heard they are not entering a friday night team this year if anyone can confirm.
It was only 2 years ago that souths grades were carrying fresh benches in all grades to ensure players got game time. Now they can't field a 5th grade team. Souths lower grades have always been so strong. Something seems off.
Wests are strong throughout all grades as with Brothers. They seem to be doing something right.
Norths are definitely on the improve. Although Souths may be struggling, I still think credit must go to the Eagles for a clean sweep. Not sure thats happened before. Success makes recruitment easier. Especially those that are looking to play in the lower grade. No one wants to go out and get belted every week.
UQ seem to be down on quality troops but they have had a very tough draw so far. Will be interesting to see how they sit once they play through the first round.
It looks like lots of clubs have lost numbers with Souths particularly hardest hit. I don't think they've lost any more players out of grades than any other club, they just haven't had the colts to replenish like other years.
Wests and Brother seem to have their colts programs humming which in turn restocks their grades each year. Well done to them.
PhilClinton
Paul McLean (56)
Winning 1st grade premierships helps!
oldrugbytragic
Stan Wickham (3)
Whilst it helps, it is not a magic wand.
East for many years were very strong in 1st Grade but struggled in the lower grades. Sunnybank was similar.
Souths have been a strong performer in lower grades for a number of year but their 1st grade team have not been winning consistently.
I think a club culture is a big one. Wests and Brothers at some stage went back to the drawing board with their club as a whole and it is paying dividends. I don't think just 1st Grade premierships are the measure of success. I think that successful teams across all grade is a good indication of culture. 1st grade success alone is a good indication of your recruitment and retention strategies.
PhilClinton
Paul McLean (56)
Mate no offence but is that not the most obviously statement ever.
Teams beat other teams, and they end up higher on the ladder. That's literally how a ladder works.
Now if you'd said - Norths are coming 9th but have beaten UQ and Souths, that would be fuckin weird.
Bulldog
Arch Winning (36)
My point was that I am surprised that Easts, Souths & Norths are all in the top 4.
Not many would have tipped Wests to be 1 & 2 after 3 rounds.
If Wests can’t beat Souths after Easter (Round #4) and go 1 & 3 there will be some serious soul searching at Sylvan Rd if that is not already happening.
Not many would have tipped Wests to be 1 & 2 after 3 rounds.
If Wests can’t beat Souths after Easter (Round #4) and go 1 & 3 there will be some serious soul searching at Sylvan Rd if that is not already happening.
Last edited:
PhilClinton
Paul McLean (56)
Yeh I know mate, I was having a bit of a laugh. Apologies.
And yep for Wests isn't some of this to be expected? With the Rebels now gone, it has thrown their whole 1st grade model upside down.
And yep for Wests isn't some of this to be expected? With the Rebels now gone, it has thrown their whole 1st grade model upside down.
Interested Viewer
Allen Oxlade (6)
Wests have certainly recruited hard and it will be tough to keep everyone happy.
With two weeks of heavy rain its a bit hard to get a true feeling on where everyone is at.
MoneyBill685
Larry Dwyer (12)
Random question...... but do coaches get paid in prems?
PhilClinton
Paul McLean (56)
Short answer is yes - long answer is yes but how much will depend on the club and their sponsors at the time.
Most coaches are still working other jobs to some capacity.
PhilClinton
Paul McLean (56)
Pup McCormack was still working for Rohrig and travelling to Brisbane occasionally when he was at Warringah and Randwick. I think it likely depends on your lifestyle and situation. If you're a younger coach and trying to buy a house in Sydney you likely need additional income to keep that dream alive.