Queensland Country have named a 35-man squad for the inaugural season of the National Rugby Championship (NRC).
Captained by Reds and Wallabies centre Anthony Fainga’a, the squad has current Reds Saia Fainga’a, Mike Harris, Greg Holmes, Ben Lucas, Beau Robinson and JJ Taulagi all taking part. The team will also have Wallabies squad members James Slipper and Rob Simmons, though both are consistently in the Wallabies starting 15 and would be unlikely to feature.
Queensland Country have a bye in the first round of the competition and will commence their inaugural season in a grudge match with the NSW Country Eagles on 30th August.
Coach Steve Meehan was positive about the selection of Fainga’a as captain of the side.
“Anthony already has leadership experience as a senior member of the Reds’ squad and will captain the team.”
The allocation of Reds players was determined by the pathways the players took to reach the provincial squad, with Beau Robinson country aligned because of his background in NSW country rugby.
17 players within the Queensland Country squad where either born or brought up in Country Queensland or have passed through the Country pathway on their way.
12 capped Queensland Reds players have been named in the 35-man squad including Anthony Fainga’a, who was recently the vice-captain of the Reds in their Super Rugby clash against the Melbourne Rebels. The other Reds include Anthony’s twin brother Saia, Blake Enever, Scott Gale, Mike Harris, Greg Holmes, Sam Johnson, Ben Lucas, Beau Robinson and Jamie-Jerry Taulagi, as well as current Wallabies Rob Simmons and James Slipper.
Current Reds assistant coach Steve Meehan will take charge of the team, with fellow Queensland assistant Nick Stiles taking charge of Brisbane City. Meehan will be joined by assistant coaches Peter Wilkins, Garrick Morgan and Tim Sampson.
Meehan believes, like many of the coaches before him, that the squad presents a good mix of provincial and club players.
“The team selected has a good balance of Reds players, wider training squad members and some of the best talent from club rugby,” Meehan said.
“The growth and development of the players who have joined the squad from Premier Rugby clubs will no doubt be enhanced by having 12 capped Reds to contribute to their development as Rugby players.
“The NRC will act as an addition to the already existing Queensland Rugby pathway which will help us further nurture and develop Queensland talent, exposing them to the pressure and demands of a professional Rugby program.”
Strong performers in Queensland club rugby have been rewarded with selection, with Giles Beveridge topping the try tally this year and sharpshooter Tom Pincus the highest point scorer.
James Tuttle (18) and Campbell Magnay (17) are the youngest two players in the squad.
“I’m looking forward to working with players who have been selected from club Rugby,” Meehan said.
“Selection in the Queensland Country squad could potentially launch the careers of developing players, it is for them to take advantage of the opportunity.”
Queensland Country Squad
| NAME | DOB | CLUB |
| PROPS | ||
| Fred Burke | 23/5/1989 (25) | GPS |
| Haydn Hirsimaki | 2/5/1998 (26) | Sunnybank |
| Greg Holmes | 6/11/1983 (30) | Reds/Sunnybank |
| Kirwan Sanday | 13/2/1991 (23) | Easts |
| James Slipper* | 6/6/1989 (25) | Reds/Bond University |
| HOOKERS | ||
| Saia Fainga’a | 2/2/1987 (27) | Reds/GPS |
| Ryan Freney | 8/9/1987 (26) | GPS |
| Tonga Ma’afu | 20/3/1992 (22) | Norths |
| LOCKS | ||
| Cameron Bracewell | 21/3/1988 (26) | Bond University |
| Blake Enever | 12/10/1991 (22) | Reds/Easts |
| Sam Fattal | 14/1/1994 (20) | Easts |
| Rubin Fuimaono | 9/11/1980 (33) | Bond University |
| Jack Payne | 13/9/1994 (19) | Brothers |
| Rob Simmons* | 19/4/1989 (25) | Reds/Sunnybank |
| BACKROW | ||
| Ben Adams | 23/4/1990 (24) | Sunnybank |
| Jack de Guingand | 6/11/1991 (22) | University of Queensland |
| Lolo Fakasilea | 10/6/1995 (19) | Sunnybank |
| Mitch King | 30/8/1990 (23) | GPS |
| Beau Robinson | 13/8/1986 (27) | Reds/Souths |
| James Turner | 25/3/1988 (26) | Souths |
| HALFBACKS | ||
| Scott Gale | 24/10/1994 (20) | Reds WTS/University of Queensland |
| Sam Grasso | 2/6/1991 (23) | GPS |
| FLYHALVES | ||
| Mike Harris | 8/7/1988 (25) | Reds/University of Queensland |
| James Tuttle | 13/5/1996 (18) | GPS |
| CENTRES | ||
| Anthony Fainga’a | 2/2/1987 (27) | Reds/GPS |
| Sam Johnson | 19/6/1993 (21) | Reds WTS/GPS |
| Clynton Knox | 27/12/1992 (21) | Brothers |
| Campbell Magnay | 10/11/1996 (17) | GPS |
| Uarotafu Setu | 22/2/1987 (27) | University of Queensland |
| OUTSIDE BACKS | ||
| Giles Beveridge | 2/7/1994 (20) | Brothers |
| Pierce Fitzgerald | 24/8/1992 (21) | Brothers |
| Ben Lucas | 30/12/1987 (26) | Reds/Sunnybank |
| Tom Pincus | 28/5/1992 (22) | University of Queensland |
| Jamie-Jerry Taulagi | 18/6/1993 (21) | Reds/University of Queensland |
| Todd Winkley | 5/3/1991 (23) | GPS |
* denotes Wallabies allocated player
Gallopers
Guest
Nah Tuttle is the best number 10
Mike
Guest
Several people saying a Brisbane B team. They would know far better than me. But what if the B teams ends up kicking the A team's behinds? Wouldn't be the first time that has happened. ;)
Mike
Guest
What is the point of dong things differently to the rest of international rugby?
Rob9
Guest
He was captain/coach in a trial game I played a few years ago against Beaudesert (west of the Gold Coast). Since then I think he's been an assistant for Q Country for a few years and that AUS Country team that played against the Lions in Newcastle. Obviously he's got a lot of rugby experience but he doesn't strike me as the sharpest tool in the shed with great rugby mind so I'd be surprised if he was appointed to the top job in any serious sort of team.
Redsback
Guest
The only real issue that I have got is that Genia and Frisby weren't sseparated. What is the point of having our two best halfbacks on the same team? I know Genia is injured, but he is meant to get game time during this and it is going to mean that Frisby is missing out on a lot of game time he should have got...
In Brief
Guest
Great idea, penalties shouldn't win matches and tries should be encouraged. And to those claiming it will encourage cynical play, open your eyes, most penalties in rugby don't result from cynical play, they result from arbitary decisions.
Rock
Guest
Completely agree Pirate, from T'ba also and was excited as I thought we would surely get a QLD Country game. QRU have definitely spat on country rugby, they need to take a page out of NSW Country book, they have got there set-up (squad and home games) pretty spot on. Let's just hope it's a first year teething for them, none the less and I've never emailed an organization before, but I think I must relay my disappointment wity how they have treated the QLD Country team for the inaugural year.
Redbull
Guest
A Brisbane B team. It would have been nice to see some regional players get in the squad. But the reality is they all most likely have jobs in their region and the games will be generally played in SEQ. Hopefully it is only a practical way to start.
Redbull
Guest
The reduction of points for penalties will only encourage more cynical play in the defensive half. If you want to clean the game up and open up the ruck, increase the points for a penalty.
Bakkies
Guest
Waste of time
Brett McKay
Expert
A bit of Qld Country history from the Reds/NRC site, too: http://www.redsrugby.com.au/NRC/QueenslandCountry/History
Pirate
Guest
Can't really see many people from Qld Country identifying with and getting behind this team, especially as they're playing most of their games in Brisbane or Gold Coast. I'm from Toowoomba and I'm not excited at all, but when the competition was first launched I couldn't wait for it. I think QRU has really missed a chance. Ho hum.
Combesy
Roar Guru
still a stacked team FOS.
El Capitan
Guest
Doesn't look like anyone from outside the SEQ Catchment made the squad? Where are the players from Cairns, Townsville, Rocky, Mackay, Mt Isa, Toowoomba etc? As others have said, this is a Queensland B team.
formeropenside
Guest
Hardly all club toilers... Hirsimaki - Faingaa - Holmes - Fuimaono - Enever - de Guignand - Robinson - Fakosilea Gale - Lucas- JJ - Johnson - Faingaa - PIncus - Harris
Comrade Bear
Roar Rookie
Ben Daley is missing also? Is he injured? I can't remember ... Same with Quirk. When does the Kick and Giggle wrap up? I was half hoping Harmichael would get some game time also ...
Brett McKay
Expert
Here it is Woodsman: http://www.theroar.com.au/2014/08/01/brisbane-city-announce-nrc-squad-2014/
Combesy
Roar Guru
Brisbane City potential starting team.. Paraka Ready/Hansen Faagase Buchanan Duling Browning Gunn/Gill Shatz Genia/Frisby Cooper CFS Tapuai Kerevi Kuridrani Turner vs Brisbane premier grade toilers...
Combesy
Roar Guru
good to see haydyn get a run known him for a while and he did well against the BIL
formeropenside
Guest
Personally, I think its stupid - increase points for a try, if you must, but without referees going hard on a yellow, that will just let teams infringe all day long. Who wants to play the AB's or Brumbies under laws like that?