The Bull Sharks tuned up for the start of the Queensland Premier Rugby season with a final trial against Sunnybank at The Canal.
The women’s side was largely made up of Bond Pirates players hoping to impress coach Lawrence Faifua and earn a call-up to the big league.
But in First Grade and Colts 1 coaches Mick Heeenan and Rico Gear were close to full strength. Here’s their takeaways from two strong wins.
Colts 1
How It Unfolded
The boys came in a little sleepy, expecting an easy ride after Colts 2’s big win, and found themselves three tries down early. A halftime rev-up from Rico Gear sparked a turnaround, and they responded brilliantly. After the break, they played our style of football—maintaining possession longer and executing their skills with greater precision. Once they shifted to a high-possession game, they looked very good, piling on 30 points in the second half.
What We’re Happy With
The second half was a real positive. It was a good hit-out to put into practice some of the things we’ve worked on throughout pre-season and to learn more about a few players.
The Challenge
The extreme heat was a major factor, with a couple of players struggling with dizziness. Our new Canadian winger, Spencer Coti, definitely got his first taste of Australian conditions.
Bull Sharks Rugby
This is one of the stronger groups we've had heading into a season. There’s good depth across most positions, and the competition for spots in Colts 1 is exactly what we want.
Work Ons
Cyclone Alfred disrupted our preparation, so we’re still playing a bit of catch-up. The focus now is on translating our off-field preparation onto the field, particularly in defence.
Trademark Players
Charlie Wake and Keanu Rasch bring a strong physical edge to the game, which will be key for us this season.
With Rico Gear
Premier Men
How It Unfolded
Scoring 60+ points is always a positive, though we probably left a couple of tries out there. Over-eagerness at times saw us pushing things instead of distributing wider. The forwards laid a solid platform, with the set-piece and lineout control being real strengths. Defensively, Sunnybank’s first-half try came from a system error—exactly what trials are for. Their second try came right at the end.
Work Ons
Defensive work rate needs to lift. Sunnybank didn’t provide the biggest test, and we know Wests will bring far more physicality this weekend. We have to be ready for that challenge.
What Made Us Happy
- The Tight Five: Rhyss Sherriff, Harrison Usher, Fergus Gillan, and Charlie Macauley were outstanding.
- Backline Standouts: Jordan Lenac controlled the tempo superbly, and new No. 10 Luke Depiazzi showed he’s a livewire, constantly looking for opportunities.
With Mick Heenan