BLK Queensland Premier Rugby Preview – Round 18
In Round 18 of BLK Queensland Premier Rugby, the Game of the Round will see University of Queensland and Sunnybank go head-to-head in a 2014 Grand Final rematch at St. Lucia. This match will be LIVE streamed on the www.redsrugby.com.au homepage, kick-off at 3:20pm.
This week of competition will be high stakes for all teams as they each work to secure a dominant position on the ladder leading into finals. With many teams close in competition points, there is still a chance for some to climb into the top four with victories this weekend.
This week the Griffith University BLK Premier Rugby Radio Show will cover the clash between Souths and Brothers. Souths still have a chance to enter finals contention and will be hoping for a win this weekend. Brothers aim to maintain their spot in third place on the ladder, after falling to UQ last weekend. The stream will be available from 3:10pm Saturday at http://bit.ly/1jeOx5U
Bond v Easts
Location: Robina
Kick-off: 3:20pm
Players to Watch
Bond: Vitori Buatava
Position: Flyhalf
Vitori Buatava brings a wealth of experience to the Bond outfit and was instrumental in the team’s heartening start to the 2015 season. He played in the Reds College in 2005 as well as at the Western Force in 2006. Buatava made his Fijian debut in 2007 and represented Fiji at the 2011 Rugby World Cup. The TSS old boy has an impressive attacking style with quick footwork as he showcased in Round 17 of the competition when Buatava’s chip and chase effort with a swift offload, resulted in a try for Bond.
Easts: Jack Mullins
Position: Scrumhalf
Easts captain Jack Mullins has led his team through a stellar season and will undoubtedly lead the Tigers into finals this year. The Easts scrumhalf was awarded the Musashi High Performer award in Round 13 after securing an important win against University of Queensland (50-29). Mullins featured in the 2014 National Rugby Championship (NRC) and will be looking to continue his consistent form in the BLK Premier Rugby finals, in hope of securing a spot in the Brisbane City team for 2015.
- Easts have dominated the competition in 2015, leading the ladder for majority of the season. However, they enter the weekend’s game against Bond off the back of a two game losing streak against Brothers (23-21) and Sunnybank (37-18).
- Bond started 2015 strong before struggling towards the end of the season. Unlike Easts, Bond head into the weekend’s match with confidence after significant margin victories against Norths (40-8) and GPS (64-13).
- A victory for Easts this weekend is essential if they hope to maintain their ladder leading position. Easts sit on 58 competition points while both UQ and Brothers are hot on the Tigers tail with 54 points each.
- Powerhouse forward Israel Rapata is noticeably absent from the Bond line up this week, which may impact Bond’s front row. Sam Clifton shifts to loosehead prop, while Nick Turner packs down at tighthead prop.
- The Easts lineup is largely unchanged except for the absence of St.George Queensland Reds winger Lachie Turner.
Bond: Sam Clifton, Alex Mafi, Nick Turner, Rubin Fuimaono, Sam Fattal, Cameron Bracewell, Callum McDonald, Josh Fuimaono, Luke Evans, Vitori Buatava, Gus Qasevakatini, Cass Walding, Brad Jones, Sean Fletcher, Sam Cox.
Coach: Sean Hedger
Easts: AJ Campbell, Andrew Ready, Kirwan Sanday, James Moore, Greg Riley, Tyrell Barker, Tom Milosevic, Ed Quirk, Jack Mullins, Matt Brandon, Owain Davies, Matt Gordon, Toby White, Joel Faulkner, Tony Bartley
Coach: Tim Sampson
GPS v Norths
Location: Yoku Road
Kick-off: 3:20pm
Players to Watch
GPS: Campbell Magnay
Position: Full back
At just 18 years-old Campbell Magnay has a wealth of experience and talent to his name already. After appearing as the youngest player in the NRC last year and debuting for the Reds in 2015, Magnay has made his mark on Queensland Rugby. The centre recently returned from Italy after playing in the Under 20 World Cup for Australia. This Saturday will be Magnay’s first start for GPS this season and will be able to display his outstanding talent and hopefully get GPS one more win for their season.
Norths: Bart Ritchie
Position: Hooker
Bart Ritchie has packed down the scrum in 13 games this season for Norths and has held firm against some tough competition. Norths Rugby has had a difficult season and is in the process of rebuilding before the 2016 season. They have showcased elements of encouraging Rugby form and the Norths front row has worked hard to put pressure on opposition. Ritchie is a Padua College old boy and represented the Association of Independent Colleges (AIC) team in 2011. He will be looking to lead his team in what will be a challenging match against GPS, hoping to come away with a win to inject confidence into the side leading into the 2016 season.
- GPS have struggled to find consistent form in 2015, losing 10 matches in all. The Gallopers produced a surprising result in Round 16 when they took down a strong Sunnybank side in a significant 47-22 victory.
- Norths head into Round 18 with one win under their belt from the season. While Norths have struggled this season, they have displayed encouraging form and will look to rebuild for a strong 2016 season.
- GPS will be missing fullback Jason Hofmeyr this weekend, replaced by St.George Queensland Reds debutant Campbell Magnay.
GPS: Ryan Freney, Dylan Lindsay, Fred Burke, Dan Gorman, Marco Kotze, Cam King, Waita Setu, Michael Richards, Tom Christie, Stefano Hunt, Rika Batibasaga, James Herbert, Chris Kuridrani, Campbell Magnay, Edan Campbell – O’Brien
Coach: Todd Dammers
Norths: Garrath Ryan, Bart Ritchie, John Bishop, Connor Anderson, Andy Weaver, Api Naiyobo, Kristian Satui, Alex Perez, Sean Minehan, Logan Tibbetts, Veresa Mataitini, Sana Maseesee, Doug Raymount, Mitch Fuller, Craig Hunt.
Coach: Nick Fogarty
Souths v Brothers
Location: Chipsy Wood Oval
Kick-off: 3:20pm
Players to Watch
Souths: Mika Tela
Position: Winger
Mika Tela began playing at Souths in 2015 after trying his hand at stints with both Sunnybank and University. He seems to have found his place in the Souths starting line-up on the wing and showcases characteristically quick footwork. He has scored eight tries this season and has acquired speed and agility from his experience representing Brisbane Fiji in Sevens competitions. Souths have had an impressive season, surprising spectators with significant victories over some of the competitions toughest teams. Round 17 saw Souths defeat Wests 63-27 in a confident display, which will give them momentum leading into the final week of competition against Brothers.
Brothers: Luke Beauchamp
Position: Flanker
Luke Beauchamp is a Marist College Ashgrove old boy who has represented Queensland Schoolboys and was part of the Australian U19 Academy in 2011. He played a stint with the Melbourne Rebels in 2012 and returned to Queensland before being selected in the 2014 NRC Queensland Country side. In 2014, Beauchamp also represented the Reds A side in the starting line up in the Pacific Rugby Cup final. His experience has worked to bolster the Brothers line up this season and has afforded them a successful year leading into finals time.
- Souths still have a shot at the 2015 finals if they are able to produce a bonus point victory over Brothers on the weekend. The Magpies currently have 45 competition points, only four points behind fourth placed Sunnybank.
- Brothers slid to third place on the ladder after a disappointing 36-26 loss to UQ in Round 17. They currently sit on 54 competition points behind UQ. They need a victory this weekend to maintain their spot on the ladder.
- Souths welcome back Markus Vanzati to the front row and John Kalauta replaces James Turner at Number 8; otherwise the Magpies have only made minor shuffles from their in-form performance against Wests in Round 17.
- Brothers have named an entirely unchanged line up for their Round 18 clash. While they weren’t able to come away with a win against UQ, the impressive outfit is sure to challenge Souths in the final week of competition.
Souths: Markus Vanzati, Maile Ngaumo, Mike Noble, Stuart Williamson, Matt Bennetts, Anton Mineko, Simana Halafonua, James Turner, Scott Malolua, Teti Tela, Mika Tela, Paul Brown, Chris Feauai-Sautia, Stephen Van Der Walt, Andrew Muirhead
Coach: Brett Picone
Brothers: Tom Moloney, Tom Sayer, Taniela Tupou, Ben Hyne, Terrin Walls, Criff Tupou, Luke Beauchamp, Harry Symes, Angus Fowler, Sam Greene, Mitch Felsman, Pat James, Giles Beveridge, Will Shipperley, Pierce Fitzgerald
Coach: Anthony Mathison
UQ v Sunnybank
Location: St Lucia
Kick-off: 3:20pm
Players to Watch
UQ: Tonga Ma’afu
Position: Prop
Tonga Ma’afu is a hard hitting and consistent member of the UQ front row and works alongside Campbell Wakely and Reuben Leilua. The University forward pack has dominated many competition heavyweights this season, led by the front row. They have remained powerful at scrum time and work to open up the game to create opportunities for the backs. Ma’afu is a Marist College, Ashgrove old boy who represented Queensland Schoolboys in 2009-2010. He has not always played for UQ however; he started his time in Rugby at Norths Rugby Club from 2011-2014. A significant achievement in his Rugby career so far has been his selection in the 2014 Queensland Country NRC side. Ma’afu will be looking to continue his consistent form into finals time in hopes of securing another position in NRC.
Sunnybank: Haydn Hirsimaki
Position: Prop
Former Sunshine Coast Stingrays player, Haydn Hirsimaki moved to play for the Sunnybank Dragons in 2014 and, in his first year with the club, got a taste of the Grand Final. UQ came away with the win in 2014 meaning the contest this weekend is sure to bring back bittersweet memories for the Dragons. In the final week of competition for 2015 Hirsimaki will be hoping to bolster the Dragons forward pack, apply pressure to the Red Heavies and come away victorious. Hirsimaki was the Queensland Country Heelers captain in 2013 and started in all bar two of the Queensland Country NRC games.
- Both UQ and Sunnybank remain in finals contention after they secured crucial wins in Round 17. UQ jumped to second place on the ladder and caused Brothers to slide to third after University defeated the Brethren 36-26.
- Sunnybank faced a challenging opposition in ladder leading Easts but managed to conjure a 37-18 victory over the Tigers. Sunnybank holds onto fourth place on the ladder but need a win this weekend to ensure they aren’t taken out of finals contention but a surprisingly dominant Souths outfit.
- UQ welcome back Campbell Wakely to the front row this weekend, but will miss impressive outside centre Harry Parker from the backs. UQ have named Gareth Kalell on the wing and have, apart from a couple of changes, opted to keep much of their Round 17 lineup.
UQ: Campbell Wakely, Tonga Ma’afu, Reuben Leilua, Phil Potgeiter, Angus Ryan, Will Brown, Conor Mitchell, Jack Cornelsen, Scott Gale, James Dalgleish, Clifton Setu, Nathan Russell, Tom Pincus, Gareth Kalell, Jamie-Jerry Taulagi
Coach: Mick Heenan
Sunnybank: Haydn Hirsimaki, Samuel Mellor, Feao Fotuaika, Andrew Gentles, Brendan Mitchell, Hofeni Matamua, George Blomfield, Jeffery Faamausili, Sean O’Connor, Mitchell Third, Matthew Feaunati, Ben Tapuai, Rex Tapuai, Junior Laloifi, Jake McIntyre
Coach: Rod Seib
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