With the first half of the season in the bag, Nic Darveniza picks out the star performers of the 2021 Gold Coast first grade season’s opening seven rounds. Front Row Outside Centre
At 1, 2 and 3, it’s all Griffith Uni Colleges Knights. Loosehead prop Lesi Semi has been a wrecking ball all season as the top-scoring prop with four tries. Hooker Cody Blackhurst, formerly of Norths and Wests in Premier Rugby, has slotted in nicely between Semi and prop Tereina McLean for front row honours.
Halfback
It’s a race for second place between Scott Stokes (HEL) and Cam Dodd (COL), because Palm Beach Currumbin’s Rodney Pita continues to thrill with every match. His double against Gold Coast Eagles to close out the first round of competition see him take joint-fourth on the season’s leading try-scorer list with six.
One of the toughest positions to select at the midway point of 2021, Taliauli’s incredible strike rate (six tries from four starts) saw him rise above fellow contenders Callum Boomer (COL), Jamian Iroa (PBC) and Josefa Lalabalavu (BON). When Taliauli plays there is no one better.
Locks
Helensvale recruit Keiran van Brecht makes his first appearance on this list. The Tasmanian import has made every post a winner since joining the Hogs from Bond University this season. Next to him is Colleges stalwart Kerrod Martorella, whose incredible skills make him the most entertaining lock to watch in the comp.
Flyhalf
With a constantly rotating cast around him, Ethan Lolesio has been at the heart of everything good for Palm Beach Currumbin this season. His flat cut-out passes have stressed defences at every turn while his goalkicking has been extremely solid too. Keahn Tipu from Helensvale is unlucky to miss the No.10 jersey.
Winger
The competition’s joint leading try-scorer brings all the finishing any first grade club could need. Colleges’ Blake Griffin has 10 tries in seven matches, scored on his favourite left wing and even when coming inside searching for work. He’s been the best winger in this competition for years and it doesn’t look like changing soon.
Tyrell Forbes has scored six of Coomera’s 23 tries this season, the bulk of those on the wing. The ability to create tries from nothing is especially valuable on a team that has struggled to score. Forbes has notched two doubles, against Surfers Paradise in round one and Gold Coast Eagles in five.
Keahn Tipu’s move from fullback to flyhalf has seen a decrease in his tryscoring total but Helensvale’s backline has blossomed around him. In a team of the mid-season exercise the young Kiwi is the perfect fullback, bringing a blend of hot-stepping, speed and playmaking to a critical position.