QLD Rugby 05/07/2024

Written by Queensland Rugby Media Unit, courtesy of qld.rugby Source article With a host of backrowers at his disposal, Souths coach Garrick Morgan has gotten creative after the competition bye, thrusting star flanker Kohan Herbert into the centres for their clash against Easts in the StoreLocal Hospital Cup. The Magpies have welcomed back emerging Reds staple John Bryant and the experienced Sean Farrell back for the contest at David Wilson Field, while Connor Vest - who has already suited up at number 6 and 8 for Souths this season - will assume a spot in the second row. This leaves...

QLD Rugby 13/06/2024

Written by Queensland Rugby Media Unit, courtesy of qld.rugby Source article As we tick over the halfway mark of the StoreLocal Hospital Cup regular season, we take a look at one major talking point from each team, with this season shaping up to be the closest season in recent memory. After Norths completed the StoreLocal Hospital Cup ‘Circle of Life’ with a win over Easts in Round 9, one could confidently say it’s anyone’s game. While there are certainly favourites in every match up, major upsets and standout performances from Easts’ Eli Pilz, GPS’s Matt Gicquel and Bond University’s Rhian...

QLD Rugby 07/06/2024

Written by Jim Tucker, courtesy of qld.rugby Source articleEasts game-breaker Eli Pilz will have a rare week off on Saturday with a knee niggle forcing him out of the clash against GPS at Bottomley Park.Young Sam Farrar has been promoted at halfback while stalwart No.8 Henry Olsen will take over as captain while Pilz is sidelined.An 18-14 loss last weekend was both credit to Norths and the Tigers falling to their bogey team again.“It’s a mental game for us going to Norths and we have to get better at it. Norths have risen to the occasion a number of times,”...

QLD Rugby 31/05/2024

Written by Queensland Rugby Media Unit, courtesy of qld.rugby Source article Australian rugby stalwart James O’Connor will play just his third club game in the past two years as he returns for Brothers for their mammoth clash against GPS at Yoku Road in Round 9 of the StoreLocal Hospital Cup. O’Connor hasn’t pulled on the butcher’s stripes since Round 18 last year – a 13-point win over Easts – when he scored a try and played a sizeable hand in setting up one of Lawson Creighton’s 30-point haul that afternoon. That was his only Hospital Cup appearance in 2023 –...

QLD Rugby 24/05/2024

Written by Queensland Rugby Media Unit, courtesy of qld.rugby Source article Grand finalists Wests Bulldogs have taken steps to shake up their modest recent form for Saturday’s clash against Easts at Bottomley Park. Back-to-back losses to GPS (36-19) and Brothers (31-12) have left the Bulldogs searching for answers in this key match-up in Round Eight of the StoreLocal Hospital Cup. “We’ve had a couple of rough weeks and there’s definitely been some soul searching within the team,” Wests skipper Connor Anderson said. “We had a team dinner on Wednesday and got into a good training session on Thursday. The answers...

QLD Rugby 17/05/2024

Written by Queensland Rugby Media Unit, courtesy of qld.rugby Source article Brothers premiership captain Noah Nielsen will return for the defending champions this weekend in their blockbuster StoreLocal Grand Final rematch against Wests at Sylvan Road. Nielsen has missed the previous handful of games, but has returned in time for the cruch game against the Bulldogs at Sylvan Road. Brothers have made two other changes for the contest with Dre Pakeho returning to inside centres meaning Paddy James has moved into the 10 spot in place of Harry Grant and George Tuineau shifting to loosehead prop for Harrison Lloyd. For...

QLD Rugby 10/05/2024

Written by Queensland Rugby Media Unit, courtesy of qld.rugby Source article Wests will usher the return of scrumhalf Louis Werchon to the fold after the blonde-mulleted halfback’s three-week stint in the Queensland Reds’ match day 23. Werchon was an architect behind much of Wests’ early season form before James Marterns deputised superbly from Round 3 to 5. Werchon’s inclusion will see the Bulldogs enter Roudn 5 as heavy favourite against GPS at Yoku Road, also benefiting from the additions of Ethan Dobbins at hooker and Sau Vaihu in the second row. The Gallopers meanwhile, will be without Dan Byrne in...

QLD Rugby 03/05/2024

Written by Queensland Rugby Media Unit, courtesy of qld.rugby Source article The return of Queensland Reds squad forward Taine Roiri has given Sunnybank a lift for Saturday’s visit to Crosby Park to face premiers Brothers in the StoreLocal Hospital Cup. Roiri is fit again after injury stalled his promising progress at training with the Reds.While training in the backrow with the State squad, Roiri will beef up the Dragons at lock. The Dragons will also get a lift for this Round Five clash with former All Blacks prop Alex Hodgman cleared to play a role off the bench during a...

QLD Rugby 26/04/2024

Written by Queensland Rugby Media Unit, courtesy of qld.rugby Source article Reds Academy halfback Willem Johnstone is within sight of his first grade debut at Brothers after being picked on the bench for Saturday’s round in the StoreLocal Hospital Cup. Johnstone has been proving himself in third and second grades with the Brethren since a surprise late pre-season switch from Souths. A longstanding weekend away for top-grade regular Isaac Tarabay has created the opening. The unbeaten Brethren are making the trip to St Lucia to face the University of Queensland in the most traditional clash on the calendar. There will...

QLD Rugby 12/04/2024

Written by Queensland Rugby Media Unit, courtesy of qld.rugby Source article Fjian international Teti Tela will make his first start of the season at flyhalf for GPS for Saturday’s mammoth clash against Souths in Round 2 of the StoreLocal Hospital Cup. The experience Tela, who can count on caps with the Fijian Drua and Queensland Reds at Super Rugby level, will bolster a Gallopers XV that dominated Round 1 in their win over Easts against a similarly rampant Magpies unit who started their season with a bonus point win. For Souths, Connor Vest is set to make his first start...