Building new Bonds
From wooden spooners to the best team in the second half of the Queensland Premier Rugby season, Bond University’s rise meant they narrowly missed finals.
ATTACK
Putting points on the board was rarely an issue. With their most dynamic backline yet able to attack from anywhere on the park, the Bullsharks averaged 30 points a game and only twice scored less than 15 ................................ A-
DEFENCE
Struggled to back up their attack early in the piece, conceding 31 points on average during the first 12 rounds before improving massively, letting in 20.6 points a game from there .......................... B-
SET PIECE
Once the club’s Achilles heel, Bond were more than competitive at set piece time. Their bolstered front-row held strong in scrums while Angus Blyth dominated lineouts at will . ........................ B+
STARS OF THE SHOW
Harry Nucifora: Sensational season for the scrumhalf and vice-captain who ran, kicked and passed effectively – not to mention his valuable organisational skills. Joey Fittock: There will be no regrets about moving down from Sunnybank. Being thrown into fullback allowed him space to carve up opposition defences. Simply electric.
Tai Ford: Backrower time and time again led his team inspirationally. Would not look out of place if Brad Thorn gave him a Reds nod.
Hayden Sargeant: Junior Wallabies winger is an excellent finisher and also showed off his flyhalf credentials with an impressive display headto-head with Quade Cooper.
Zach Moimoi: Made a noticeable impact upon returning from injury, carrying the ball fearsomely to add another dimension to the pack.
BIGGEST IMPROVER
Will Slipper. The frontrower, who is the younger brother of James Slipper, is a club stalwart but really kicked on in 2018.
SURPRISE PACKET
Dion Taumata and Kieran Van Brecht split this one. Taumata did a stellar job at No.10 while Mitch Third was injured, while young gun Van Brecht blew away teammates with his efforts when called upon.
LANDMARK MOMENT
It’s hard to go past the opening of the Fabian Fay Clubhouse, a facility that takes the Bullsharks from a park footy team to a proper semiprofessional outfit.
HEARTBREAK MOMENT
Souths’ last moment try to tie up the scores at 24-24 in Round 15 after Bond had repelled their advances for 15 minutes. It ultimately cost them a playoffs place.
CONTROVERSIAL MOMENT
The drug-tainted player who threw the last pass for that Magpies try, Karmichael Hunt, made his comeback at Robina to a mixed reception.
REPRESENTATIVE BOLTER
Centre Dan Boardman joined the club from Sydney with immediate success, bringing stability to the Bond midfield and booking himself a spot in the Queensland Country NRC squad.
AND IN 2019 ...
Bond’s young guns spearheaded their late-season surge where they lost just one of their last 10 games. With confidence and experience under their belt, 2019 could finally be the year the team becomes a title force.