Centre combo boosts Coast

THE Gold Coast Cyclones will take a potent centre pairing into the South Queensland Championships on the Sunshine Coast this weekend.

The Cyclones have named highly rated Surfers Paradise duo James Uhatafe and Jesse Mcgilvary at inside and outside centre respectively.

Uhatafe played Queensland Premier Rugby for Bond University last year while Mcgilvary is one of the representative squad’s vice-captains.

Gold Coast coach Chris Miles said their combination was an exciting prospect.

“He (Uhatafe) is a good strike runner so it will be really interesting to see how he plays alongside Jesse Mcgilvary,” Miles said.

“Jesse was the Queensland Country (Heelers) centre last year as well so we’re looking for a very effective partnership between those two.”

Uhatafe and Mcgilvary are among 11 players from the Dolphins – who are on a 22-match winning streak in the Gold Coast District competition – named for the Cyclones.

Miles said Surfers’ dominance at club level had only partly contributed to their dominant influence in the squad’s make-up.

“Surfers have been good over the last 18 months … but there are boys equally as good in those positions that just cannot commit for work reasons etc,” he said.

Among the surprise selections are Ricky Agent from Bond University’s premier reserve grade side and shadow fullback Tom Bird from Nerang, despite the Bulls not having a team in the top Gold Coast division this year.

Helensvale scrumhalf Te Ari Mahuri will captain the side, with Mcgilvary and Andy Finn his deputies.

Gold Coast are scheduled to play Sunshine Coast at Caloundra tomorrow night before meeting Darling Downs at Noosa on Saturday. A South Queensland team will be picked after the tournament.