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BLK Queensland Premier Rugby returns for Round 2 this Saturday afternoon, with eight of nine clubs in action. This week’s Game of the Round will see 2013 grand finalists Easts and GPS go head-to-head at David Wilson Field, kick off 3:20pm.
The clash between Easts and GPS will be LIVE streamed via Reds TV on the www.redsrugby.com.au homepage.
To view the Queensland Premier Rugby Weekly digital program, follow this link:
To view the Queensland Premier Rugby Wrap from Round 1, follow this link: http://bit.ly/19du8RF
Easts v GPS – Game of the Round
Kick-off: 3:20pm
Location: David Wilson Field
Players to watch
Easts: Jack Mullins
Position: Halfback
Jack Mullins has been the heart and soul of the Easts Tigers premier grade side over the last few years and made a name for himself during the National Rugby Championship (NRC) with Brisbane City. With the ability to play halfback, flyhalf and in the centres, Mullins offers a lot of versatility for the Tigers.
GPS: Ryan Freney
Position: Prop
Ryan Freney started in all bar one of Queensland Country’s eight National Rugby Championship matches in 2014, however he featured at hooker rather than prop. With the introduction of former Souths and Australian Under-20s hooker Feleti Kaitu’u to GPS in 2015, new head coach Todd Dammers has moved Freney to tight-head prop showing the Sunshine Coast local’s versatility in the front-row.
2015 season stats
Easts - Wins: 1 Losses: 0 For: 26 Against: 15
GPS - Wins: NA Losses: NA For: NA Against: NA
- A strong rivalry has existed between these two sides since they met in the 2013 Premier Rugby grand final.
- In 2015 both sides have new head coaches with Tim Sampson taking the reins at Easts while Todd Dammers takes over from Shane Arnold as head coach at GPS.
- GPS have previously had the services of St.George Queensland Reds Samu Kerevi, Chris Kuridrani and Sam Johnson in the backline, this year they will have to look elsewhere for talent in the backs as all three have been regularly in the Reds’ match day 23.
- Easts new backline import Elliot Hagen, who joins the club after a stint in the ITM Cup with the Bay of Plenty Steamers, scored a try on debut against Norths.
- Kimani Situati, former Reds wider training squad member, will start at outside centre for GPS.
Easts: AJ Campbell, Sam Richards, Kirwan Sanday, Aidan Leeming, Jonasa Dulo, Tyrell Barker, Tom Milosevic, Elias Power, Jack Mullins, Andrew Krelle, Johnny Wilder, Tony Bartley, Toby White, Matthew Carroll, Elliot Hagen
Coach: Tim Sampson
GPS: Nick Sykes, Feleti Kaitu'u, Ryan Freney, Matt Hirst, Dan Gorman, Corey Thomas, Waita Setu, Michael Richards, Tom Christie, Edan Campbell-O'Brien, Byron Roberts, Somi Pulu, Kimami Sitauti, Isaac Weier, Jason Hofmeyr
Coach: Todd Dammers
Bond University v Souths
Location: Bond University RUFC
Players to Watch
Bond University: Sam Cox
Position: Fullback
A former Hospital Cup winner with Easts, Sam Cox has returned to Premier Rugby with Bond in 2015 after having a year off in 2014. A noted playmaker while at Easts, Sam has the ability to cover a number of positions in the backline and will prove to be an asset for new head coach Sean Hedger in 2015.
Souths: Stephan Van Der Walt
Position: Outside Centre
Stephan Van Der Walt returns to BLK Queensland Premier Rugby after a stint in Canberra with the Brumbies. Having just returned from the National Sevens Championships where he represented Queensland Red, this will be Van Der Walt’s first chance to impress new Souths head coach Brett Picone.
Bond University - Wins: 0 Losses: 1 For: 18 Against: 21
Souths - Wins: 0 Losses: 1 For: 19 Against: 28
- Bond University pushed reigning premiers University of Queensland in their Round 1 clash at St.Lucia last Saturday, falling just short in the inter-varsity clash 21-18.
- Bond have welcomed back a number of former Gold Coast players to their ranks in 2015 including former Hospital Cup winner Sam Cox and Queensland Country NRC lock Sam Fattal from Easts.
- Souths are looking to re-establish themselves as a power-house club in 2015 under the guidance of new head coach Brett Picone, but they faced a hard challenge in Round 1 against 2014 grand finalists Sunnybank.
- This week Souths will welcome back experienced backline players Stephan Van Der Walt and Andy Muirhead, who missed Round 1 as they were part of the Queensland Red team that finished runners-up at the National Sevens Championships in Sydney.
Bond University: Sam Clifton, Nick Turner, James Smith, Cam Bracewell, Sam Fattal, Jake Upfield, Jaye Paton, Josh Fuimaono, Vinney Quigley, Vitori Buatava, Jamie Evans, Cass Walding, Brad Jones, Adam Gauder, Sam Cox
Coach: Sean Hedger
Souths: Marcus Vanzati, Alex Casey, David Faeo, Matt Bennetts, Owen Jones, James Turner, Simana Halafonua, John Kalauta, Ron Muai, Teti Tela, Mika Tela, Henry Teofilo, Stephan Van Der Walt, Kalavite Kaloni, Andy Muirhead
Coach: Brett Picone
Sunnybank v Wests
Kick-off: 3:40pm
Location: Oldmac Oval
Sunnybank: Ben Adams
Position: Number 8
Ben Adams returns to Oldmac Oval this Saturday for his first Premier Rugby match for the Dragons since the 2014 Grand Final. Adams started in all eight of Queensland Country’s 2014 NRC matches at Number 8 and was captain for the final three rounds. He was also part of the Queensland Red Sevens side that finished as runner’s up at the National Sevens Championships last weekend in Sydney.
Wests: Sione Na’a Helu
Sione Na’a Helu has joined Wests in 2015 after a stint playing in Portugal. He brings size and abrasiveness to the Bulldogs pack as well as experience having previously played with both University and the Sunshine Coast Stingrays.
Sunnybank - Wins: 1 Losses: 0 For: 28 Against: 19
Wests - Wins: 0 Losses: 1 For: 31 Against: 44
- Sunnybank have retained many of their players from their 2014 grand final side, some of whom went on to represent either Brisbane City or Queensland Country in the NRC.
- The Dragons will this week be bolstered by the return of a number of their Queensland Sevens representatives including Junior Laloifi and Ben Adams.
- Wests clawed back from a 34-10 half-time deficit against Brothers, to narrow the losing margin to 44-31 in Round 1.
- New Wests recruit Sione Na’a Helu will pack down against Sunnybank tight-head prop Feao Fotuaika, who featured for Queensland Country at the tail end of the NRC.
Sunnybank: Benroy Sala, Shane Tasi, Feao Fotuaika, Hermenegildo Simon Velasco, Andrew Gentles, Brendan Mitchell, Chazz Mahina, Benjamin Adams, Sean O'Connor, Henry Taefu, Junior Laloifi, Rex Tapuai, Peter Lee, Joshua Edmond, Matthew Feaunati
Coach: Rod Seib
Wests: Sione Na’a Helu, Mick Lee, Jake Newell, Tom Holliday, Harry Struss, Jeremiah Lynch, Loveni Enari, Rob Rutledge, Tim Smith, Andrew Turner, Daniel Faumuina, Luke Ferry, Tyrone Lefau, Jack Pinchin, Sam Caslick
Coach: Pat Byron
Norths v University of Queensland
Location: Hugh Courtney Oval
Norths: Tajhon Mailata
Position: Centre
Tajhon Mailata is new to Norths in 2015, and he brings with him a wealth of experience. Originally from Brisbane, Mailata was a product of Nudgee College before going on to represent the Western Force in Super Rugby as well as the Bay of Plenty Steamers and the Wellington Lions in New Zeland’s ITM Cup.
University: Jack de Guingand
Position: Flanker
Jack de Guingand is heading into his second year with the Red Heavies having moved to Brisbane in early 2014 to study medicine at the University of Queensland. de Guingand was part of Queensland Country’s NRC squad and crossed for a hat-trick, in his starting debut against the Perth Spirit in Rockingham.
Norths - Wins: 0 Losses: 1 For: 15 Against: 26
University of Queensland - Wins: 1 Losses: 0 For: 21 Against: 18
- Norths put in an improved performance from their 2014 campaign against Easts in Round 1 and showed some signs of potent attack with the introduction of some new players to their backline.
- Norths flyer Veresa Mataitini, who was the competition’s leading try-scorer in 2013, will earn his first start for the Eagles in 2015 this Saturday.
- Former Norths hooker Tonga Ma’afu will come up against his old club for the first time on Saturday as he packs down alongside fellow Queensland Country frontrower Campbell Wakely for University.
- Harry Parker, who represented Brisbane City in the NRC, will move from wing to the unfamiliar position of outside centre for Saturday’s clash.
Norths: Sitani Satui, Bart Ritchie, Gerard Bell, Andy Weaver, Alex Perez, Api Naiyobo, Kristian Satui, Daniel Crichton, Sean Minehan, Sam Satui, Veresa Mataitini, Tajhon Mailata, Sitiveni Mafi, Jesse Foran, Mitch Fuller
Coach: Nick Fogarty
University: Pat Fepuleai, Tonga Maafu, Campbell Wakely, Angus Ryan, Jay Adkins, Conor Mitchell, Jack de Guingand, Jack Cornelsen, Moses Sorovi, Ed Gibson, Mackenzie Burgess, Herman Porter, Harry Parker, Gareth Kalell, Tom Banks
Coach: Mick Heenan
16 OCTOBER 2018