TOP OF THE PROPS
TDRU TEAM OF THE DECADE
THE Townsville and Districts Rugby Union A grade competition has revealed its A grade Team of the Decade.
Hundreds of nominations were put forward by the TDRU’S clubs, and each player has provided exemplary service to his respective club thanks to a unique skill set and undoubted playing talent.
It was left to a panel of experts from the TDRU headed by TDRU chairman Gary Lewis to make the hard choices, and hours of discussion have resulted in a 23-man Team of the Decade.
“We have a lot of good players,” TDRU director of rugby Terry Shiells said.
“It’s been that way for 30-40 years, and they probably don’t get the recognition they deserve.
“There’s so many good players that we could have filled three teams of the decade.
“There’s been a lot of discussion about it and it’s good to promote the game.”
On the back of a historic premiership win for former TDRU powerhouses Brothers at the weekend, it is no surprise that they have a strong representation with five players.
The Brethren were the form side in the first half of the decade and won four of the first five premierships.
But it is the Teachers West juggernaut that dominates the list with 11 players in the side.
It comes as little surprise after the club built a premiership dynasty which included a run of five straight premierships over the back end of the decade.
The tation halves
Bulldogs represenincludes impressive pairing Tom Vinson and Josh Fletcher as well as their dominant forward pack including hooker Lewayne Barrett, and flankers Marty Brennan and Dan Carmen.
Vinson, who moved to Toowoomba this year, said the Bulldogs success was built off the field as much as it was on it.
“I think we had a good group of guys who got on well off the field,” he said.
“We spent a lot of time together socially and that really helped that connection. You were more willing to put your body on the line for the mate next to you, and you have con1. Andrew Parker (Brothers)
2 Lewayne Barrett (Teachers West)
3 Kris Nielsen (Teachers West)
4 Hugh Huppatz (Teachers West)
5 Emil Grant (Brothers) 6 Martin Brennan (Teachers West)
7 Dan Carmen (Teachers West)
8 Michael Parker (Brothers)
9 Tom Vinson (Teachers West)
10 Josh Fletcher (Teachers West)
11 Josh Lamb (Teachers West)
12 Ben Douglas (Brothers) 13 Alphonse Gima (Brothers)
14 Dan Chorley (Teachers West)
15 Shane Kennedy (Burdekin)
16 Rikki Abraham (Teachers West)
17 Russell West (Charters Towers)
18 Apaitia Matalau (Pai) (Ross River)
19 Daniel Withers (North Ward)
20 Tevita Mauluulu (Brothers)
21 Scott O’neill (North Ward)
22 Curtis Rayment (Teachers West)
23 Ben Pearson (Ross River)
fidence they would for you.
“I think the Bulldogs selections in this side is a good reflection of the results we have enjoyed over the past decade.”
The only other team to win a premiership in the decade, Burdekin in 2013, have one player in the team with former Queensland Country fullback Shane Kennedy getting the 15 jersey.