The Bull Sharks enjoyed the most successful year in the club’s history in 2024.
The premierships in U18s and Third Grade and the three-peat for the Premier Women were the first time the club had won multiple trophies across different grades.
Bull Sharks also shone on the world stage with Maddison and Teagan Levi and Hayden Sargeant representing Australia in Rugby 7s at the Paris Olympics and wheelchair rugby players Ella Sabljak, Brayden Foxley-Connolly and Emillie Miller winning bronze with the Steelers at the Paralympics.
In the 15-a-side game, John Eales Rugby Excellence scholarship recipient Angus Blyth made his Wallabies debut while nine players from the all-conquering Bull Sharks women’s program played Super W for the Queensland Reds.
We asked Head of Rugby Grant Anderson to provide a state of play for the season and his expectations for 2025.
![Grand Final Premier Women's rugby team](https://bond.edu.au/sites/default/files/styles/wide_l/public/2024-09/Screenshot%202024-09-03%20at%2010.47.17%20am.png?h=0948459b&itok=05MObTZ_)
The season highlight:
I think winning dual premierships was the highlight of the season. Our Women dominated the competition to win their third premiership in a row and our Third Grade went undefeated in the finals to bring the cup back to the club. On top of that, the first U18s side we have fielded went through their season undefeated to win the Lightning Premiership.
The summer focus:
We are transitioning into our Sevens program over the next 2 months so there will be a big focus on winning the State Championships again. Training starts mid-November and we have high expectations for all our players to be hitting the gym in the build up to pre-season 2025. Recruitment never stops and we are targeting some positions. We already have quality players at the club, and it is essential that we provide a pathway for them to develop their rugby and reach their playing goals.
![Peter Jones](/sites/default/files/styles/large/public/2024-09/Peter%20Jones.jpg?itok=t-Qlt1W4)
Three cheers for: Peter Jones was granted a Life membership at our recent awards night. He has been a mainstay of the club for the past 22 years and is returning next year. All our volunteer managers deserve recognition for the work they do. We have 20 plus Colts graduating into the senior teams next year and I think we will see some of them shine in the Premier Grades. Young players like Zeb Misios, Harry Bell and Callum Simpson were very good. We again had the highest points scorers in the competition in Hamish Roberts and Mel Wilks while Rhian Stowers won his second consecutive Slipper Trophy for Best Player.
Everyone fell in love with:
There was a real rally behind our Third Grade team as they pushed into finals. Our Women’s team remain the “darlings” of the competition and there was a standing ovation for Jonesy as he collected his Life Membership.
Expect big things from:
I am really keen to see how the Colts coming into the senior grades are going to perform next year. Some of them have already gained experience in Premier Grade and that will only hold them in good stead. Colts coach Rico Gear has done a great job laying the foundation with these players in the Colts years and I think they are primed to step up in 2025.
Competition Awards:
Batty Bremmer Thomas Trophy, Brailsford Brown Cup, Premier Women premiership and Third Grade premiership. Leading point scorers Hamish Roberts, Mel Wilks.
Club Awards
Colts 2
Best Back: Jackson Wood
Best Forward: Kenneth Harris
![Sam Howarth](https://bond.edu.au/sites/default/files/styles/wide_l/public/2024-08/Sam%20Howarth%20Colts%201.jpg?h=98701651&itok=cU8otRCN)
Best & Fairest: Ryan Wildman
Colts 1
Best Back: Sam Howarth
Best Forward: Harry Bell
Best and Fairest: Blake Raymond
3rd Grade
Best Back: Justin Bernstein
Best Forward: James Mateiwai
Best and Fairest: Petrus du Plessis
2nd Grade
Best Back: Guy Wolton
Best Forward: Helaman Swerling
Best and Fairest: Toby Mayes
Premier Women
Best Back: Melanie Wilks
Best Forward: Zoe Hanna
![Tyler Campbell passes to Rhian Stowers](/sites/default/files/styles/large/public/2024-05/Tyler%20Campbell%20passes%20to%20Rhian%20Stowers.jpg?itok=1Q-y9eAU)
Best and Fairest: Zoe Hanna
1st Grade
Best Back: Tyler Campbell
Best Forward: Jack Winchester
The Slipper Trophy
1st Grade Player of the Year: Rhian Stowers
7’s Best and Fairest
Men’s: Fred Dorrough
Women’s: Amahli Hala
Wheelchair Rugby
Best and Fairest: Lil Prucha
Stoten Trophy
Under 18’s Player of the Year: Callum Simpson
Fabian Fay Club Person of the Year
Lawrence Faifua, Melanie Wilks
Life Member
Peter Jones
Wallabies
Angus Blyth, Zane Nonggorr, Josh Canham
Wallaroos
Melanie Wilks, Eva Karpani,
Australian 7’s
Maddison Levi, Teagan Levi, Hayden Sargeant
Olympians
Maddison Levi, Teagan Levi, Hayden Sargeant
Paralympians
Ella Sabljak, Emilie Miller, Brayden Foxley-Connolly
100 Games
Struan Robertson, Guy Wolton, Vincent Quigley.