GPS First XV rugby: Round 8 Team of the Week named ahead of Nudgee-Terrace blockbuster headlining season finale
GPS First XV rugby round 8 Team of the Week latest ahead of a round 8 blockbuster between premiers Nudgee and the competition’s most improved side - Terrace.
The GPS First XV premiership may be sewn up, with Nudgee College confirmed as outright winners of its 46th title.
There is still plenty to play out in round 9, including the annual battle of the St Joseph’s schools, Nudgee v Terrace, which shapes as an appropriate season finale.
The performance of the Terrace (4-3) side this season gives supporters hope the squad, inspired by its outstanding forwards, can run Nudgee close - or even topple them.
The reality is Nudgee’s outside back division is second to none. Indeed Nudgee has scored between 40 and 50 points in five of its games this season, and twice hit 60.
If they score 56 points, they’ll break the all time scoring record set by the State High Dream Team of 2009 (405 points).
But the Terrace forwards will give plenty of cheek, as will the backline division starting with plucky No. 9 George Hales and his consistently sharp counterparts.
It will be a wonderful celebration match sure to draw huge numbers.
The final round will also be a chance for departing Year 12 First XV players to go out with a roar.
Following round 9, this masthead’s annual Team of the Season will be revealed.
But first, who made the round 8 Team of the Week?
The squad includes plenty of players from the sublime match between Churchie and Ipswich Grammar School, while Terrace players have been acknowledged for their winning efforts. Some Toowoomba Grammar School players recognised for their performances in a losing side.
GPS FIRST XV RUGBY ROUND 8 TEAM OF THE WEEK
15. Noah Fien (Nudgee)
Fullback Fien was electric at the back, with his running and passing game causing constant concern in the Toowoomba Grammar School defence.
The TGS defenders had the desire to stop Fien, but the explosive Fien could still find a way to trigger his side.
Has had an outstanding season, which would come as a surprise to very few.
14. Marty Hatcher (Churchie)
Hatcher played outside centre for Churchie and had a blinder.
“Sensational” in the words of high-emotion coach Andrew Brownhill after his team’s great escape on the Main Oval, Hatcher had telling involvements in the wide channel.
He scored twice, defended astutely to nullify his high class opposition midfield and saved his best performance for a match that demanded it.
13. Oliver Kennedy (IGS)
It was one of the more accomplished debut performances you can imagine, given the loss of senior back Finn Kendall (hamstring) after 10 minutes and the presence of the elite Treyvon Pritchard in the opposition.
In a helter-skelter paced match, the inside centre controlled the midfield and impressed in attack.
The classy Kennedy had been warming his engines all season long, adding the finishing touches off the bench. His polished performance showed he is the first in line for the No. 10 or No. 12 jersey come 2026.
12. Treyvon Pritchard (Churchie)
Treyvon Pritchard was the main show, the ringmaster of an extraordinary match won late by Churchie over Ipswich Grammar School.
After starring in the first half with countless important involvements, Pritchard was tired and it resulted in him twice missing the mark kicking for touch.
But like the top echelon of players, Pritchard rebounded in style to have his hand in the lead up to Churchie’s final try and then the matchwinning conversion that Angus Underwood would usually take.
He was off the field and Pritchard delivered to win a game that would take the cake for ‘clash of the season’.
11. Matt Johnston (TGS)
The jinking Johnston was a flash on the wing whose blazing speed netted two tries, and helped in a third.
Johnston has been a revelation this season, an unmatched excitement machine with x-factor strike power.
10. Archie Mesritz (Nudgee)
Mesritz played a blinder at No. 10 for Nudgee and it wasn‘t his first, or second, this season.
The Avoca Beach product whose motivation to join Nudgee came from watching ‘The Season’ documentaries, Mesritz did it all, with his sleight of hand sending his backs streaming into attack.
The smooth-moving playmaker scored a try, while also bringing judicious tactical kicking into the game.
9. George Hales (Terrace)
Hales has played a huge role in knitting together Terrace’s remarkable about face from a 41-7 round 1 loss to Ipswich Grammar School.
The Terrace boys went on to win four from the next six, one of which was a loss by a whisker up on the range against TGS.
The three-year halfback has yelped at his forwards, organising their match winning forays, while supporting them with well placed kicks and metre gaining darts.
His 50m intercept try against State last weekend was crucial to getting Terrace home against a team that just the week before beat TGS convincingly.
8. Teina Graham (Nudgee)
Along with his hooker Isaac Rauluni, Nudgee’s No. 8 man mountain had unmatched post contact metres.
The Melbourne Marvel drove holes in the TGS defence with thumping charges, and even when he was cornered by two or three defenders, Graham was able to continue to advance the advantage line for his halfback Will Reardon.
After showing flashes of brilliance in a 2024 season hindered by injury, Graham has given a gang-busting account of himself in seven stunning games.
7. Archie Ilott (Terrace)
Ilott was like a red heeler, always wanting to be in the thick of the action. It was just what the doctor ordered against a workaholic State High backrow that was playing in its final game of the season.
The dependable Ilott was clinical and clean at the breakdown, a constant presence with high energy that was needed at the breakdown against athletic opponents.
6. Oliver Nasser (Terrace)
Nasser played No. 8 but to get the top performers recognised, he is named at blindside flanker where he would be just at home.
The Terrace prime mover was again an inspiring leader who played strongly against big, physical opponents with and without the ball.
In a positive sign for his development, Nasser has gotten more and more destructive as his three-year First XV tenure has worn on.
5. Mostyn Bowen (IGS)
Bowen was immense in the game of the season, scoring two tries and physically dominating to keep his side in the game.
He was the player of the round, a forward battleship who threw his team on his shoulders and muscled up when Churchie, on multiple occasions, threatened to advance in front by more than two converted tries.
An outstanding performer in 2025, Bowen remains in a purple patch of form after scoring and preventing tries under pressure.
4. Liam Gordon (Churchie)
Matching the brawn of Bowen was the skilful and long-striding Gordon.
A smart move from coach Brownhill has transformed the tall Gordon from an outside back to a second rower and the results have been resounding.
Gordon stole three lineouts on Saturday, reeled in Duke Thallon’s arrow-straight throws whenever they came his way and had his hand in multiple attacking raids that thrust IGS onto the back foot.
Gordon’s last month of football has been fabulous.
3. Hunter Tauakipulu (Churchie)
Tauakipulu has also been on a tear playing prop but resembling the nimbleness of a backrower.
A powerful customer who hails from New Zealand, Tauakipulu combated the impressive front-row of IGS and had plenty of strong carries in the tight which mounted phases and pressure before halfback Alfie Bowman unleashed his backline.
2. Isaac Rauluni (Nudgee)
Cap Coast junior Rauluni was again one of Nudgee’s battering ram forwards, someone who could rupture the line, drag defenders with him and deliver front foot ball for his halfback Reardon.
He was also like a brick outhouse in defence who has really lifted in his senior year.
As a result of Nudgee’s scrum and maul has being elite, the front row of Rauluni, Hamala and Slater were all inclusions in Dale Roberson’s Australian Under-18s squad.
1. Jed Siganto (BGS)
Jed Siganto sent traffic back in BBC’s direction and his ability to muscle up against big, experienced opposition contributed greatly to BGS again being in a winning position halfway through the match.
Siganto’s scrummaging was strong and he even snared a penalty at the breakdown when grappling onto the ball.
He has developed nicely in a campaign where BGS have often started strong against all opposition, before waning in the final quarter of play.
SUPER SUBS
Charlie Hollyman (Terrace)
Every week Hollyman’s name will be circled by the opposition coach as a player to contain, but every week Hollyman uses his big frame to twist and turn and struggle his side into a better position.
Hollyman always offers quality involvement and always improves Terrace’s position on the field.
That was the case in a 12-7 arm wrestle won by Terrace over State High.
Tito Hamala (Nudgee)
Hamala was a wrecking ball with his driving carries which always put Nudgee in a better position.
His willingness to carry hard ensured Nudgee had multiple running threats and gave the TGS defenders no respite.
Nick Weir (Terrace)
Terrace’s drive for victory was again spearheaded by the front three of Weir, Hollyman and Harbottle.
The trio consistently made meaningful contributions to Terrace’s forward thrust which was needed against a side featuring a big back five forward formation.
Ben Walker (TGS)
Walker’s courageous defence earns him a place on the bench.
He locked himself around the ankle of Nudgee’s forward giants and grimly clung to his rivals before leaping to his feet and getting ready to do it all over again.
It was a job well done by the light weight second rower.
Harry Cohen (IGS)
Coen again showed his commitment to the cause, dominating the ruck and being impressive in all facets of the game.
He and fellow flanker Thomas Smith were immense in the thrilling affair, with Cohen’s scrappy defensive and pilfering particularly important in slowing down Churchie momentum.
Sam Williams (Churchie)
Williams showed why should be one of the next cabs off the rank if there were an injury to a No. 8 in the Australian Under-18s squad.
A tireless forward, Williams took more carries than you could keep count of and his eagerness to do so meant that IGS were defending for most of the first hour.
He was damaging, diligent and downright impressive.
Will Reardon (Nudgee)
Reardon’s whippy passing from the feet of his forwards played its part in flyhalf Archie Mesritz’s performance, while the No. 9s cheeky darts from the ruck also gave Nudgee another arrowhead in attack.
Toby Kennedy (BBC)
Kennedy had a bit of class about him in a windy match that demanded some kicking brilliance.
Kennedy has brought that all season long and his smart kicks, fast hands and organisation was to the fore in BBC’s brilliant second-half surge that turned a 13-10 deficit into a 41-18 win.
Kiama Jione (BBC)
Kennedy didn’t have to run too much himself due to the destructive deeds of No. 12 Jione, a young enforcer originally from Maroochydore.
Jione’s two second half tries sparked, and finished, BBC’s excellent response to BGS’s fabulous first half.
After starting the season in the flanks, Jione has thrived in attacked and thwarted in defence playing in the midfield.
Franck Iraguha (Terrace)
Iraguha’s courageous, crash ball running has consistently laid a platform beyond the advantage for his forwards and he did it against in round 8.
The State High side had no shrinking violets and Iraguha was tough and relentless at inside centre.
Myles Rosemond (TGS)
Rosemond played fullback where he lit up the Old Boys Oval with express place.
He generated breaks with his speed, passed to Matt Johnston to create a try, and booted a 50-22 kick which generated attacking possession for TGS at a crucial time.
The counterattacking kid from Townsville has had the Midas touch again in 2025.
More Coverage
Angus Tagicakibau (State High)
Tagicakibau was always the man most likely to pull the game out of the fire for BSHS, and his strong, problem-solving season where his tendencies have been well studied and combated finished on a high note against Terrace.
Special mentions: Lincoln Dalton (BGS), Harper Enasio (BGS), Gray O’Neill (BBC), Tavita Loughland (BBC), Duke Thallon (Churchie), Freddie Monohan (Churchie), Connor MacLeod (Churchie), Tom Smith (IGS) Jeremiah Harbottle (Terrace), Cyrus Suniula (BSHS), Finn Curren (Nudgee), Will Dennis (Terrace), Rhymen Tusi (TGS), Levi Slater (Nudgee), Cooper Brown (TGS), Jack Brown (TGS), Angus McPhail (IGS), Brock Coombes (IGS).
Originally published as GPS First XV rugby: Round 8 Team of the Week named ahead of Nudgee-Terrace blockbuster headlining season finale
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