Young winger shows his class in GPS cauldron

QUICK-STEPPING Year 10 winger Trezman Banjo was promoted by Nudgee College for a game in GPS rugby’s greatest rivalry over the weekend.

The indigenous flyer from Cairns (left) was elevated direct from his two-try showing in the 16As last weekend to face Gregory Terrace at Tennyson.

Banjo, 16, has pedigree as a Queensland Under-16s rugby league player and replaced injured Ethan Robbins (knee).

Nudgee overcame an early 10-0 deficit to topple Gregory Terrace 49-25 in a GPS rugby clash that was always far closer than the final scoreline.

“We were lucky to win last year’s match with a kick on full-time so all the ingredients were there for another big one with a good crowd and plenty of rivalry,” Nudgee College coach Andrew Scotney said.

■ AFL Cairns ruckman and former Cairns Taipan Rowan Gray turned out for Darwin basketball club Essington for the first time on the weekend.

Big man Gray, previously listed on the Cairns Taipans and Gold Coast Blaze NBL rosters, was drawn to the club by fellow big man Travis Ellis in Cairns.

“I’m working at Inpex, and Travis kept asking me to come and have a game,” Gray said. “My role will be to create a bit more space for Deola D’Brown and Tobiasz Hose – and to help develop the juniors at this club is something I’m passionate about.”

■ FORMER Cairns Taipans development player Jack Madgen was promoted to Collingwood’s primary list in place of injured backman Lynden Dunn.

Madgen was previously a Category B rookie, which meant that, unlike the club’s Category A rookies, he could not play an AFL game unless promoted. The 25-year-old South Australian, who spent four years playing college basketball in the United States prior to being signed by the Magpies, has enjoyed an impressive season in the VFL.

He was named third-best player in the Pies’ VFL win over Essendon last weekend after tallying 21 disposals and three rebound-50s.

He is now in the frame to make his AFL debut in the coming weeks.