WThe QJRU should be embaressed with themselves allowing the Brisbane head coach and manager picking there own sons in the Brisbane team,impartial selection not likely, green was totally outplayed all carnival. Yellow was the best Brisbane side and to only have a handful selected shows just how political junior rugby in Brisbane is.
First - congrats to u13 State Champs, Gold Coast, on scoring those last three tries in the last 10 mins or so to jag a win from behind. Never gave up and clawed their way back into the game. BJRU Yellow - great effort and very good carnival, hold your heads up.
Second - I thought Ackworth (QJRU President) gave a good explanation of selections, particularly the process and that there would always be disappointments. If you review some of the earlier posts, I am assuming as independent as can be observers had also pencilled in the players mentioned above. I believe they did earn their spots on merit.
Third - yes, the QJRU should be embarrassed. When they published the selection criteria for coaches they specifically (and I thought emphatically) stated that coaches would not be appointed to the age group that they had sons playing in. This is a failure by the QJRU to adhere to their own criteria.
Fourth - getting back to overall selections. As Ackworth said, QJRU Development officers / selectors and coaching staff were at every match they could get to during the season. Many of the Green team selected had probably had an outstanding regular season. So although the team performed poorly at the carnival, the State Champs was not the sole time of observing selection possibilities. Also looking back at all the speculatative posts I think the team named was pretty close to many of the names nominated.
And Lastly - this is u13. It is all fine and nice to make rep teams and the boys selected should be proud of themselves, but as I have said elsewhere in this forum, selection or non selection in rep teams at this level does not define the boy or what his future in rugby or any sport for that matter. However, I do believe the way a boy reacts to selection and non selection is the unseen / unrealised lesson that the boy will take with him for his life to come.